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Question
Can PCl5 act as an oxidising as well as a reducing agent? Justify.
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Solution
The highest oxidation state that phosphorus exhibits is +5, which is the oxidation state of P in PCl5. As a result, it cannot become more oxidised or raise its oxidation state above +5. PCl5 is therefore unable to function as a reducing agent. However, because it may readily undergo reduction and drop its O.S. from +5 to +3 or a lower number, it can readily function as an oxidising agent.
Thus, PCl5 acts as an oxidising agent. For example,
\[\ce{\overset{+5}{P}Cl5 + \overset{0}{H2} -> \overset{+3}{P}Cl3 + \overset{+1}{H}Cl}\]
\[\ce{\overset{+5}{P}Cl5 + \overset{0}{Zn} -> \overset{+3}{P}Cl3 + \overset{+1}{Zn}Cl}\]
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