you would apply stock numbers only to compounds of metals and to compounds of?

Question

A. sulfar
B. oxygen
C. helium
D. hydrogen

Answer 1

Stock numbers are used when an element has multiple oxidation states. Oxygen's only oxidation state is -2, helium's is 0, and hydrogen is always +1 or -1 (the charge will be obvious based on whatever it's bonded to). Thus, the answer is Sulfur, with oxidation states of -1, +/- 2, 4, and 6.