The sum of oxidation numbers of all carbon atoms in carbon atoms in carbon suboxide is +x. What is value of x.

Answer

To determine the sum of oxidation numbers of all carbon atoms in carbon suboxide (C3O2), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the formula of carbon suboxide
The formula for carbon suboxide is C3O2.

### Step 2: Draw the structure of carbon suboxide
Carbon suboxide has a specific structure where:
- There are three carbon atoms.
- The middle carbon atom is bonded to the two terminal carbon atoms.
- The terminal carbon atoms are each double bonded to an oxygen atom.

### Step 3: Assign oxidation numbers to the carbon atoms
- The central carbon atom is bonded only to other carbon atoms, not to any oxygen. Since it is in a pure elemental state with no electronegative atoms, its oxidation number is 0.
- The terminal carbon atoms are each double bonded to an oxygen atom. The oxidation number of oxygen is -2. To balance this, each terminal carbon must have an oxidation number of +2 (since +2 + (-2) = 0).

### Step 4: Calculate the total oxidation number
- There are two terminal carbon atoms, each with an oxidation number of +2. Therefore, the total oxidation number contributed by the terminal carbons is:
\[ +2 + +2 = +4 \]
- The central carbon contributes 0 to the total oxidation number.

### Step 5: Sum the oxidation numbers
The total sum of oxidation numbers for all carbon atoms in carbon suboxide is:
\[ 0 + 2 + 2 = +4 \]

### Conclusion
Thus, the sum of oxidation numbers of all carbon atoms in carbon suboxide is +4. Therefore, the value of x is 4.