What kind of oxidation do monatomic nonmetal anions and their protonated forms typically show?

Monatomic nonmetal anions, such as chloride (Cl⁻) or oxide (O²⁻), typically exhibit the lowest oxidation number possible when they engage in ion transfer. This is because these anions have already gained electrons, resulting in a stable electron configuration that corresponds to a more negative oxidation state.

Protonation of these nonmetal anions to form acid-like species, such as hydrogen chloride (HCl) from Cl⁻, maintains this lower oxidation state in the transfer process. During oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions, the primary focus is often on how these anions interact with cations or other species in the chemical environment, and it is more common for them to transfer electrons at this lower oxidation state rather than seeking to achieve a higher oxidation state, which would destabilize their overall configuration.

Therefore, the behavior of monatomic nonmetal anions and their protonated forms during ion transfer reactions aligns with the idea of utilizing the lowest oxidation number possible for stability and reactivity in these conditions.