Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) Integrated Science (024) Practice Exam

When hydrogen is combined with a nonmetal, its oxidation state is typically +1. This is because hydrogen has the ability to lose one electron to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to helium. In compounds with nonmetals, hydrogen usually behaves as a cation, contributing a positive charge.

The option indicating -1 is correct only in specific cases, such as when hydrogen is combined with metals in hydrides. For example, in metal hydrides like NaH, hydrogen displays an oxidation state of -1. However, in the vast majority of other compounds where hydrogen bonds with nonmetals, such as in water (H2O) or hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrogen assumes a +1 oxidation state, reflecting its usual role as a positive ion in those scenarios.

Therefore, the correct oxidation state of hydrogen when it is combined with a nonmetal is +1, as this alignment with the behavior of hydrogen in most common chemical situations demonstrates its tendency to act as a positive contributor to molecular structure.