Consider the following reaction `P_(4)+KOH to PH_(3)+X`
How many P-H bonds are present in species X?

Answer

To solve the question regarding the reaction \( P_4 + KOH \rightarrow PH_3 + X \) and to determine how many P-H bonds are present in species X, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Reaction Products
The reaction involves phosphorus (P) and potassium hydroxide (KOH). The products of this reaction are phosphine (PH₃) and another species, which we will denote as X.

### Step 2: Determine the Structure of X
From the video transcript, we learn that the species X is identified as potassium dihydrogen phosphite, which has the formula \( KH_2PO_2 \).

### Step 3: Analyze the Structure of X
The structure of \( KH_2PO_2 \) can be represented as follows:
- It contains a phosphorus atom (P) bonded to two hydrogen atoms (H) and an oxygen atom (O) with a double bond to another oxygen atom (O).
- The structure can be depicted as:
- One phosphorus atom (P) is bonded to two hydrogen atoms (H) and is also connected to an oxygen atom (O) that is negatively charged (O⁻), and another oxygen atom (O) that has a double bond.

### Step 4: Count the P-H Bonds in X
In the structure of \( KH_2PO_2 \):
- There are 2 hydrogen atoms directly bonded to the phosphorus atom.
- Therefore, there are 2 P-H bonds present in species X.

### Conclusion
The number of P-H bonds in species X (which is \( KH_2PO_2 \)) is **2**.