uncombined element
0
combined oxygen (with different element)
-2
combined hydrogen
+1
simple ion
charge on ion
combined fluorine
-1
H in metal hydrides
e. g. NaH, CaH2
O in peroxides
e. g. H2O2
O bonded to F
+2
F2O
what does loss of electrons mean
oxidation
what does gain of electrons mean
reduction
ON of H2
0 (any diatomic molecule is 0)
ON of H in 3H2O
+1 (just look at individual element, not number before or after it)