What is the oxidation state of hydrogen typically in compounds?

In most compounds, hydrogen has an oxidation state of +1. This is because hydrogen typically forms one bond by sharing its single electron, effectively losing it to form a positive charge. For instance, in compounds like water (H₂O) or hydrochloric acid (HCl), hydrogen is bonded to more electronegative elements (oxygen and chlorine, respectively), resulting in hydrogen having a +1 oxidation state.

There are exceptions, such as in metal hydrides (e.g., NaH or CaH₂), where hydrogen has an oxidation state of -1 due to its bonding with less electronegative metals. However, these are relatively rare compared to the numerous compounds where hydrogen exhibits a +1 oxidation state.

Thus, recognizing that the common state of hydrogen in most contexts is +1 clarifies why this choice is the most accurate representation of hydrogen's oxidation behavior in compounds.