What is the oxidation number for beryllium?
Answer: The oxidation number for beryllium (Be) is +2.
Explanation: The oxidation number, also known as the oxidation state, indicates the charge that an atom would have if electrons were transferred completely during the formation of a compound. Beryllium, with an atomic number of 4 and an electron configuration of 1s2 2s2, typically loses its 2 valence electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration similar to that of helium. This results in a 2+ charge, giving beryllium an oxidation number of +2.