Question

The correct statements among the following is/are
(A) NO3 ion stable but the corresponding
PO3 ion is unstable
(B) PO3-ion is stable but the
corresponding NO is ion is unstable
(C) NO3 ion is strong oxidizing agent but
PO% cannot act as an oxidizing agent
(D) PO, can act as reducing agent but
NO can act as strong oxidizing
agent.

Answer 1

The correct statement among the following is :

(A) NO3 ion is stable but the corresponding PO3 ion is unstable.

• In the Lewis-structure of NO3- , We have an electronic structure with one N=O bond which is relatively stable because in period 2 the pi-pi orbitals overlap is good as the atoms are small.

• PO3- ion is relatively unstable because in Period 2 ,the pi-pi orbitals interaction is weak as the atoms are larger in size.

• NO3- ion is stable due to its ability to form several resonance structure whereas PO3- can't form resonance.

• NO3- has a formal charge of -1 which also leads to stability of ion.