Why isn't the maximum oxidation state of oxygen is 6?
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The question should ask why the max oxidation state of oxygen is not "+6".
See,
for the oxidation state of an atom of an element in a compound to be positive, it needs to be bonding with an atom of an element that has an electronegitivity (Or hunger for electrons,to be simple) greater than that atom.
Oxygen is the second most electronegative element on the Periodic table, with an electronegativity of 3.44 on the Pauling scale.
Only fluorine (3.98) is more electronegative.
Therefore, oxygen shows positive oxidation state only with fluorine.
Thats why there's "No oxide of fluorine".
But the valency of fluorine is 1.
It only needs 1 electron for filling its valence shell. So at most we can have OF2, where the O.N. of oxygen is +2.
I hope i made it clear to you.
Thank you.
See,
for the oxidation state of an atom of an element in a compound to be positive, it needs to be bonding with an atom of an element that has an electronegitivity (Or hunger for electrons,to be simple) greater than that atom.
Oxygen is the second most electronegative element on the Periodic table, with an electronegativity of 3.44 on the Pauling scale.
Only fluorine (3.98) is more electronegative.
Therefore, oxygen shows positive oxidation state only with fluorine.
Thats why there's "No oxide of fluorine".
But the valency of fluorine is 1.
It only needs 1 electron for filling its valence shell. So at most we can have OF2, where the O.N. of oxygen is +2.
I hope i made it clear to you.
Thank you.
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