Please help me and my friend with stuff for our chemistry test monday?

Question

we need to understand:

oxidation numbers
how to combine acids


PLEASE help us and explain as much as you can!!!

Answer 1

The oxidation number tells how an atom will combine. If an atom is in column 1 it likes to give away 1 electron Now it has a charge of +1. That is its oxidation number. It will combine with an atom with a -1. Column 2 has 2 electrons in the outer ring and gives away 2 and becomes +2. Column 3 or 13(new form of periodic table has 3 electrons in the outer ring and gives them away to become +3.Skip the middle of the periodic table as the transition elements have multiple oxidation numbers and yu need to be told which is used.Column5/15 has 5 electrons in the outer ring, takes 3 and gets a -3 charge. Column 6/16 has 6 electrons in outer ring, takes 2 to fill the ring and gets a -2 charge. Column 7/17 takes 1 electron and gets a -1 charge. Column 8/18 already has 8 in the outer ring and does not combine.I skipped column4/14 which has 4 electrons and shares. The oxidation number is the + or - number.

How to combine acids is not a viable question. We do not combine acids.

Answer 2

oxidation number is just the number on the charge of atom ie.
Oxygen oxidation charge is -2 Cl is -1
To combine acids you just add water to one side and then H ions to the other because you need to balance the oxygen then balance the H