Question

Calculate the oxidation number of $P$ in ${H_3}P{O_3}$

Answer 1

Hint : Oxidation number of an atom is known as the charge that an atom appears to have on forming ionic bonds with other heteroatoms. An atom having higher is given a negative oxidation state. The oxidation number is the total number of electrons that atoms in a molecule can share, lose, or acquire while forming chemical interactions with atoms of another element.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
In ${H_3}P{O_3}$ , the oxidation of $H$ is $+ 1$ .The oxidation number of $O$ is $- 2$ .
Let us consider the oxidation number of $P$ as $x$ .
$3( + 1) + x + 3( - 2) = 0$
$3 + x - 6 = 0$
$x - 3 = 0$
$x = + 3$
Hence, the oxidation number of $P$ in ${H_3}P{O_3}$ is $+ 3$ .
More electronegative atoms in molecules gain electrons from a less electronegative atom, resulting in negative oxidation states. The number of electrons lost or gained equals the oxidation state's numerical value.
The oxidation state or number of an atom or ion in a molecule/ion is determined by:
Calculating the continuous oxidation state of other atoms/molecules/ions linked to it, and
Adding the total charge of a molecule or ion to the total oxidation state of the molecule or ion.

Note :
The oxidation state is also known as the oxidation number. However, depending on whether we are considering the electronegativity of the atoms or not, these terms can have a different meaning. In coordination chemistry, the word oxidation number is frequently used. Neutral atoms or molecules have no net charge. As a result, their overall oxidation state is zero. Atoms in homo-polar compounds have no oxidation state. In an oxygen molecule, an atom's oxidation number is zero.