How many bridging oxygen atoms are presents in `P_(4)O_(10)` ?

Options

A. 4
B. 2
C. 5
D. 6

Answer

To determine the number of bridging oxygen atoms in \( P_4O_{10} \), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Structure of \( P_4O_{10} \)
- The molecular formula \( P_4O_{10} \) indicates that there are 4 phosphorus (P) atoms and 10 oxygen (O) atoms.
- In this compound, phosphorus atoms are connected to each other through bridging oxygen atoms.

### Step 2: Identify Bridging Oxygen Atoms
- A bridging oxygen atom is defined as an oxygen atom that connects two phosphorus atoms.
- In the structure of \( P_4O_{10} \), each phosphorus atom is connected to other phosphorus atoms via oxygen atoms.

### Step 3: Draw the Structure
- The structure can be visualized as a tetrahedral arrangement of phosphorus atoms with oxygen atoms bridging between them.
- Each phosphorus atom can form bonds with other phosphorus atoms through oxygen.

### Step 4: Count the Bridging Oxygen Atoms
- In the structure of \( P_4O_{10} \), we can identify the number of bridging oxygen atoms by counting the oxygen atoms that connect the phosphorus atoms.
- Each P atom is connected to two other P atoms through bridging O atoms.

### Step 5: Calculate the Total Number of Bridging O Atoms
- By examining the structure, we find that there are a total of 6 bridging oxygen atoms in \( P_4O_{10} \).

### Conclusion
- Therefore, the number of bridging oxygen atoms in \( P_4O_{10} \) is **6**.

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