What is the oxidation number of \( H \) in LiH? You must include the + or -charge with the number. Type a response

In lithium hydride (LiH), the oxidation number of hydrogen (H) is -1. This is because lithium (Li) is an alkali metal and has an oxidation number of +1, meaning that hydrogen must take on a -1 charge to balance the overall compound, resulting in a neutral molecule. It's interesting to note that hydrogen can have different oxidation states depending on its bonding situation. In most compounds, hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 when bonded to more electronegative elements, but it shows -1 in metallic hydrides like LiH, where it behaves more like a halogen.