Question

What are the oxdidation states of phosphorus in the following compounds?

$H_{3}PO_{2,}H_{3}PO_{4,}Mg_{2}P_{2}O_{7,}pH_{3}HPO_{3}$

• A. +1, +3, +3 +3,+5
• B. +3,+3,+5,+5,+5
• C. +1,+2,+3,+5,+5
• D. +1,+5,+5,-3,+5

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

+1,+5,+5,-3,+5

Answer 2

: $H_{3}PO_{2}: + 3 + x - 4 = 0 \Rightarrow x = + 1$

$H_{3}PO_{4}: + 3 + x - 8 = 0 \Rightarrow x = + 5$

$Mg_{2}P_{2}O_{7}: + 4 + 2x - 14 = 0 \Rightarrow x = + 5$

$PH_{3}:x + 3 = 0 \Rightarrow x = - 3$

$HPO_{3}: + 1 + x - 6 = 0 \Rightarrow x = + 5$