What is the oxidation number of PO4?

Understand the Problem

The question is asking for the oxidation number of the phosphate ion (PO4). This involves understanding how oxidation states are assigned to elements within a compound.

More Information

In the phosphate ion (PO4³⁻), each oxygen has an oxidation number of -2. Since the total charge of PO4³⁻ is -3, the oxidation number of phosphorus must be +5 to balance the overall charge.

Tips

A common mistake is omitting the overall charge of the ion when calculating oxidation numbers, which can lead to incorrect results.

Sources

• What is the oxidation number of oxygen and phosphorus in PO4 3-? - homework.study.com
• What is the oxidation number of phosphorus in PO4 3-? - socratic.org
• Oxidation number of P in PO43- ion is ____. - testbook.com