WAEC - Chemistry (1994 - No. 8)
The oxidation number of phosphorus in \(PO_4^{3-}\) is
+ 1
+2
+3
+4
+5
Penjelasan
The oxidation number of phosphorus in \(PO_4^{3-}\) is calculated as follow;
\(PO_4\) = -3
but oxidation number of oxygen = -2
P + (-2 x 4) = - 3
P - 8 = -3
P = -3 + 8 = +5
\(\therefore\) the oxidation number of phosphorus in \(PO_4^{3-}\) = + 5.