Question

Why is the highest oxidation state of a metal exhibited in its oxide or fluoride only?

Answer 1

Electronegativity

• Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom in a molecule to attract the shared pair of electrons towards itself.
• As the number of protons in the nucleus increases across the period table, so does electronegativity.
• The electronegativity decreases with increasing atomic radius.

Metal oxide or fluoride

• A metal's maximum oxidation state can only be found in its oxide or fluoride.
• Oxygen and fluoride ions are both very electronegative and extremely small.
• Due to these properties, they may oxidize the metal to its greatest oxidation state.