Question
What is the oxidation state of phosphorus in the following: (a) H3PO3, (b) PCl3 (c) Ca3P2, (d) Na3PO4, (e) POF3?
Solution
Oxidation can be calculated as:
H3PO3
oxidation state of hydrogen is +1
oxidation state of oxygen is -2
calculation for P oxidation state is :
1 x3+ P +(-2) x3 =0
3+P+(-6)=0
3+P=6
P=6-3
=3
here oxidation state is +3
(ii) PCl3
Oxidation state of chlorine is -3
thus
P+(-3) =0
P = 3
here oxidation state is +3
(iii) Ca3P2
oxdation state of calcium is +2
2 x3 +2P =0
6+ 2P =
2P=-6
P= -6/2 =-3
oxidation state is -3
(iv)Na3PO4
here oxidation state of sodium is +1
oxidation state of oxygen is -2
1 x3 +P +(-2) x4=0
3 +P +(-8) =0
3+P =8
P=8-3 =5
oxidation state is +5
(v) POF3
oxidation state fulorine is (-1)
oxidation state is (-2)
P+(-2) +(-1) x3 =0
P= 5
oxidation state is +5
.
H3PO3
oxidation state of hydrogen is +1
oxidation state of oxygen is -2
calculation for P oxidation state is :
1 x3+ P +(-2) x3 =0
3+P+(-6)=0
3+P=6
P=6-3
=3
here oxidation state is +3
(ii) PCl3
Oxidation state of chlorine is -3
thus
P+(-3) =0
P = 3
here oxidation state is +3
(iii) Ca3P2
oxdation state of calcium is +2
2 x3 +2P =0
6+ 2P =
2P=-6
P= -6/2 =-3
oxidation state is -3
(iv)Na3PO4
here oxidation state of sodium is +1
oxidation state of oxygen is -2
1 x3 +P +(-2) x4=0
3 +P +(-8) =0
3+P =8
P=8-3 =5
oxidation state is +5
(v) POF3
oxidation state fulorine is (-1)
oxidation state is (-2)
P+(-2) +(-1) x3 =0
P= 5
oxidation state is +5
.
