Chemistry / Unit 12 Chem 2296 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Group Oxidation State from Valence Electron Count
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The idea
An element's group oxidation state equals its s/p valence electron count, the state reached when every valence electron is lost or shared away.
In practice
Group 15's five valence electrons give phosphorus a group oxidation state of 5+, as in PCl5.
Where people slip
The group oxidation state is a ceiling under favorable conditions, not the only state an element shows.
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