Which one of the following is the oxidation state of oxygen in OF₂?

In OF₂ (Oxygen Difluoride), oxygen has an oxidation state of +2, which surprises many students because oxygen is almost always assumed to have a -2 oxidation state. However, this is one of those important exceptions every Chemistry student must remember. The key rule here is that fluorine is the most electronegative element in the entire periodic table — more electronegative than oxygen itself. This means fluorine always pulls electrons toward itself, forcing oxygen to take a positive oxidation state in this compound.

• Fluorine Rule: Fluorine always has -1 oxidation state in all its compounds, without any exception whatsoever
• Calculation: In OF₂ — let oxygen's oxidation state be x. Then x + 2(-1) = 0, which gives x = +2
• Why Oxygen is Positive: Since fluorine is more electronegative than oxygen, it pulls bonding electrons away, making oxygen electron-deficient and therefore positive
• Important Exception: OF₂ is one of the rare compounds where oxygen shows positive oxidation state — a must-remember exception for competitive exams
• Compound Name: OF₂ is called Oxygen Difluoride, a pale yellow, highly toxic gas used as a powerful fluorinating agent