Question

Why would fluorine have a positive oxidation state in "HOF" even though it is more electronegative?

Answer 1

Electronegativity of Fluorine:

• Electronegativity is defined as a chemical property describing the ability of an atom or functional group to attract shared electrons towards itself.
• Fluorine ($\mathrm{F}$) is the most electronegative element in the periodic table.

Fluorine in $\mathrm{HOF}$:

• In $\mathrm{HOF}$, if $\mathrm{OH}$ is considered to have a $-1$ charge, then it can be considered that fluorine may have a $+1$ charge. And for that to happen, fluorine must attach to a more electronegative entity than itself. But in order to maintain the neutrality of the molecule, Fluorine has to exhibit a positive oxidation state of $+1$even though it is more electronegative than oxygen.

Hence, fluorine would have a positive oxidation state in $\mathrm{HOF}$ even though it is more electronegative.