Oxidation state of the metal in the mineral zincite is

Answer

To determine the oxidation state of the metal in the mineral zincite, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-step Solution:

1. **Identify the Chemical Formula**: The mineral zincite is primarily composed of zinc oxide, which has the chemical formula ZnO.

2. **Understand Oxidation States**: The oxidation state (or oxidation number) of an element in a compound reflects the charge that the element would have if the compound were ionic. In oxides, oxygen typically has an oxidation state of -2.

3. **Set Up the Equation**: Let the oxidation state of zinc (Zn) be represented as \( x \). Since ZnO is a neutral compound, the sum of the oxidation states must equal zero. Therefore, we can write the equation:
\[ x + (-2) = 0 \]

4. **Solve for the Oxidation State of Zinc**: Rearranging the equation gives:
\[ x - 2 = 0 \implies x = +2 \]

5. **Conclusion**: The oxidation state of zinc in zincite (ZnO) is +2.

### Final Answer:
The oxidation state of the metal in the mineral zincite is +2.

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