Oxidation number vs charge? From what I understand:

*oxidation numbers: are the "act" of electrons moving

while

*charge: is what the atom "wants" to do with its electrons.

-

Can anyone please clear up the distinction between the two and when its appropriate to use one, the other, or both at the same time?

-

Is it that charge is only used for ions?
If an atom loses electrons, it develops a positive charge and becomes a cation. Likewise, if an atoms gains electrons, it develops a negative charge and becomes an anion.

"Charges only EXIST on IONS."

Covalent bonding rose the oxidation number.
We are aware that in a Covalent Bond sharing of electron takes place.
The more electronegative atom will take more bonding electrons and it will get a negative oxidation number (It depicts Anion).
Similarly less electronegative atom mimics a Cation.

In other words you can say Oxidation Numbers are fictional ionic charges