Dictionary
oxida'tion state"
Chem.
the state of an element or ion in a compound with regard to the electrons gained or lost by the element or ion in the reaction that formed the compound, expressed as a positive or negative number indicating the ionic charge of the element or ion. Also called
oxida'tion num"ber. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.