What is the oxidation of O2?

Question

I know O (Oxygen) is -2.

Is O2 the same?

Answer 1

I think you want to ask for the oxidation number of oxygen in O2. It is 0. The rules are that the oxidation number of combined oxygen is -2, except in peroxides like H2O2, where it is -1. The oxidation number of combined hydrogen is +1, except in hydrides like NaH, where it is -1. The oxidation number of an element in its elemental state is 0. So H = 0 in H2.