Assign oxidation state of any free element as 0
Assign oxidation state of a monatomic ion as its charge
Use the sum of oxidation states in a neutral compound as 0
Use the sum of oxidation states in a polyatomic ion as the ion charge
Assign Group 1 metals as +1
Assign Group 2 metals as +2
Assign fluorine as -1 in compounds
Assign oxygen as -2 in most compounds
Assign hydrogen as +1 with nonmetals and -1 with metals
Assign other halogens as -1 in most binary compounds
Solve for the unknown oxidation state using the total charge rule
Check for exceptions such as peroxides, superoxides, hydrides, and oxygen-fluorine compounds