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A-Level Chemistry: Redox

How do you describe an element that has only partly oxidised?
MnO2+4HCl=MnCl2+Cl2+2H2O
Use oxidation numbers to show chlorine has only partly been oxidised.
I understand that it starts as -1, and then goes to -1 and 0, but how do you explain that.

Reply 1

Pigster

Original post by Meggggggggggg

Essentially you are answering the Q.

All you need to do is point out that you start off with 4x Cl with o.n. -1 and you end with 2x Cl with o.n. 0 and 2x with o.n. -1 (still) i.e. only some of the Cl's have been oxidised. That, I would call partial oxidation.