Question

Water is an oxide of hydrogen represented by the formula $H_{2}O$. However, the oxide of fluorine is represented by the formula $O{F}_2$ and not $F_{2}O$. How do you justify this?

Answer 1

Water is an oxide of hydrogen. Thus, represented by $H_{2}O$. But the oxide of fluorine is represented by the formula $O{F}_2$ and not $F_{2}O$ (as in case of $H_{2}O)$

Reason: In between oxygen and Fluorine, Fluorine has more electronegativity than that of oxygen. Thus in $O{F}_2$ it has a negative oxidation state of -1

$O{F}_2$ is a fluoride of oxygen not oxide of fluorine