Question

What is the highest oxidation state possessed by phosphorus in it's oxyacids?

Options

• +5

• +3

• +6

• +4

Answer 1

+5

Explanation:

+ 5 is the highest oxidation state possessed by phosphorus in it's oxyacids. In oxoacids phosphorus is tetrahedrally surrounded by other atoms. All these acid contains at least one P = O bond and one P-OH bond. The oxoacids in which phosphorus has maximum oxidation state (+ 5) is orthophosphoric (H₃PO₄), pyrophosphoric (H₄P₂O₇) and metaphosphoric (HPO₃)_n·