---
title: "Chlorine forms several oxyanions: hypochlorite (\\(\\text{ClO}^-\\)), chlorite (\\(\\text{ClO}_2^-\\)), chlorate (\\(\\text{ClO}_3^-\\)), and perchlorate (\\(\\text{ClO}_4^-\\)). Which of the following correctly lists these species in order of increasing oxidation number of the chlorine atom?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119672/"
date_modified: "2026-08-21T08:12:00+00:00"
---

# Chlorine forms several oxyanions: hypochlorite (\(\text{ClO}^-\)), chlorite (\(\text{ClO}_2^-\)), chlorate (\(\text{ClO}_3^-\)), and perchlorate (\(\text{ClO}_4^-\)). Which of the following correctly lists these species in order of increasing oxidation number of the chlorine atom?

Chlorine forms several oxyanions: hypochlorite (\(\text{ClO}^-\)), chlorite (\(\text{ClO}_2^-\)), chlorate (\(\text{ClO}_3^-\)), and perchlorate (\(\text{ClO}_4^-\)). Which of the following correctly lists these species in order of increasing oxidation number of the chlorine atom?

- **A.** \(\text{ClO}_4^- < \text{ClO}_3^- < \text{ClO}_2^- < \text{ClO}^-\)
- **B.** \(\text{ClO}_4^- < \text{ClO}_2^- < \text{ClO}_3^- < \text{ClO}^-\)
- **C.** \(\text{ClO}^- < \text{ClO}_3^- < \text{ClO}_2^- < \text{ClO}_4^-\)
- **D.** \(\text{ClO}^- < \text{ClO}_2^- < \text{ClO}_3^- < \text{ClO}_4^-\)

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119672/*