3 Answers. Oxygen can take multiple oxidation states. This particular compound is sodium peroxide. You're right that usually oxygen has a charge of -2, but in this case, there's no way that each N can have an oxidation state of +2.
oxygen can take multiple oxidation states.this particular compound is sodium perixode, that usally oxygen has a charge -2 but in this case there's no way that each N that can have an oxidation state of +2
