White phosphorus, when heated with conc. NaOH solution in an inert atmosphere of `CO_(2)` forms phosphine and a sodium salt of oxoacid of phosphorus 'X' . The oxidation state of phosphorus in 'X' is

Options

A. `+3`
B. `+4`
C. `+1`
D. `+5`

Answer

C

Explanation

White phosphorus, when heated with conc. NaOH solution in an inert atmosphere of `CO_(2)` forms phosphine and a sodium salt of oxoacid of phosphorus , i.e. `NAH_(2)PO_(2)` .
The reaction is as follows :
` P_(4) + 3 NaOH + 3H_(2) O to underset((X))(3 NaH_(2)PO_(2))+PH_(3)`
Now , the oxidation of phosphorus in `NaH_(2)PO_(2)` can be calculated as :
`(+1) +2 (+1) +x +2 (-2) = 0 `
`rArr x = + 1 `
Thus, the oxidation of P in `NaH_(2)PO_(2) ` is + 1 .