Oxidation states and redox reactions

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With oxidation states, if you have an element in a reaction that is for example 3CuSO₄ does that mean the oxidation number is 3 times the overall oxidation number of CuSO₄?
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Corrie writes ....
 
In a particular compound, such as CuSO₄, an element has a fixed oxidation state - in this case +2 for copper. Any multiplication of oxidation numbers that we often use to balance redox equations etc, is merely a useful 'tool' to achieve a result - it does NOT change the oxidation numbers (states) of the elements in that compound.
 
So the oxidation number (state) of copper in CuSO₄ is unchanged by multiplying it by 3 in balancing an equation.
 
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updated: 23 March 2009