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ChemistryMediumClass 12

p-block Oxoacids of N P S Cl

p-block Elements

52

JEE Qs

8%

Hard

100

min

Focus on understanding the structure and oxidation state of each oxoacid, as these fundamentally determine its acidity, basicity, and redox properties.

🧮 Key Formulas

Sum of (Oxidation State of atom * Number of atoms) = Overall Charge of molecule/ion
Basicity of an oxoacid = Number of O-H bonds present in its structure

✅ Key Points for JEE

  • 1Mastering the drawing of correct Lewis structures for all oxoacids, including determining central atom, bonds (single/double), and lone pairs, is crucial for understanding their properties.
  • 2The oxidation state of the central atom (N, P, S, Cl) dictates the acid's oxidizing/reducing nature and is key to predicting its reactions.
  • 3For phosphorus oxoacids, H atoms attached directly to P (P-H bonds) are not acidic, while H atoms attached to oxygen (O-H bonds) are acidic. This determines basicity.
  • 4Acidity of oxoacids generally increases with increasing oxidation state of the central atom (e.g., HClO < HClO2 < HClO3 < HClO4) and with increasing electronegativity of the central atom in the same period (e.g., H2SO4 > H3PO4).
  • 5Be familiar with the specific properties and reactions (e.g., disproportionation, thermal decomposition) of key oxoacids, especially those with intermediate oxidation states.

⚠️ Common Mistakes

  • Incorrectly identifying the basicity (number of acidic protons) of phosphorus oxoacids by counting all H atoms instead of only O-H bonds.
  • Confusing the structural differences and resulting properties of various oxoacids, especially isomers or polymers (e.g., ortho, pyro, meta forms of phosphoric acid, or different peroxoacids of sulfur).
  • Miscalculating oxidation states or incorrectly assigning oxidizing/reducing properties based on an incomplete understanding of stability and available oxidation states.

NCERT Chapters

  • Class 12 Chemistry Part 1 Ch 7: The p-Block Elements