Question

Which of the following statements are true about $P_4{O}_6$ and $P_4{O}_{10}$?

• A. Both these oxides have a closed cage like structure
• B. Each oxide requires 6 water molecules for complete hydrolysis from their respective oxoacids
• C. Both these oxide contain 12 equivalent $PO$ bonds
• D. $P_4{O}_6$ and $P_4{O}_{10}$ both contains p$\pi$-p$\pi$ bonds as well as p$\pi$-d$\pi$ bonds.

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (B), (C)

Both these oxide contain 12 equivalent $PO$ bonds
Both these oxides have a closed cage like structure
Each oxide requires 6 water molecules for complete hydrolysis from their respective oxoacids

(A) Both these oxides have a closed cage-like structure. The structures are as shown below.

(B) Each oxide requires 6 water molecules for complete hydrolysis to form their respective oxoacids.

$P_4{O}_6+6H_{2}O\left(cold\right)\to 4H_{3}P{O}_3$

$P_4{O}_{10}+6H_{2}O\to 4H_{3}P{O}_4$

(C) Both these oxides contain 12 equivalent $P-O$ bonds. There are $4P$ atoms and each $P$ atom is linked to $3O$ atoms through $P-O$ single bond.

(D) $P_4{O}_6$ contains all $\sigma$ bonds and $P_4{O}_{10}$ contains $p\pi -d\pi$ bonds.