Chemistry - CHEMICAL BONDING Question with Solution | TestHub
A neutral phosphorus oxyacid has two equivalent P atoms, both in oxidation state +5. Its connectivity has exactly one P–O–P bridge, no O–O bond and no P–H bond. Each P has one terminal P=O and two P–OH groups in the specified Lewis contributor. For one molecule define a=ordinary basicity, b=total σ bonds including O–H, and c=total lone pairs on all oxygen atoms in that contributor. Which ordered triple (a, b, c) follows?
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Answer:
Solution:
The connectivity gives H₄P₂O₇. Four OH groups give basicity 4. Each P has four σ bonds, giving eight P–O σ bonds in total, and four O–H bonds bring b to12. The two terminal =O atoms, four OH oxygens and one bridging oxygen each have two lone pairs in the specified contributor, so c=7×2=14. Distinguishing a shared oxygen atom from its two P–O bonds is necessary to obtain the counts.
