Suppose a chlorine atom in a compound has an oxidation state of –1.

(a) Is the number of valence electrons assigned to this atom by oxidation state bookkeeping more or fewer than the number of valence electrons in a free chlorine atom?

(b) How many more or fewer?

(c) In order for a chlorine atom in a compound to have a –1 oxidation state, what must be true about the electronegativity of the atom to which it is bonded?