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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2019 · 10 Jan · Shift 2 · Q10
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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2019 · 10 Jan · Shift 2 · Q10

JEE MainChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureMCQ+4 / −1
The pair that contains two P – H bonds in each of the oxoacids is
  1. A
    H3PO2H_3PO_2H3​PO2​ and H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​
  2. B
    H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​ and H4P2O6H_4P_2O_6H4​P2​O6​
  3. C
    H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​ and H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​
  4. D
    H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​ and H3PO2H_3PO_2H3​PO2​
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: A

  1. Key idea: In oxoacids of phosphorus, only hydrogens directly bonded to phosphorus are P–H bonds. Hydrogens present as –OH are O–H bonds, not P–H bonds.

  2. Let us write the structures and count P–H bonds.


(i) H3PO2H_3PO_2H3​PO2​ (hypophosphorous acid)

Its structure is: HOP(=O)H2\mathrm{HOP(=O)H_2}HOP(=O)H2​ So it contains:

  • one O−H\mathrm{O-H}O−H bond
  • two P−H\mathrm{P-H}P−H bonds

Hence, H3PO2H_3PO_2H3​PO2​ has 2 P–H bonds.


(ii) H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​ (phosphorous acid)

Its structure is: (HO)2P(=O)H\mathrm{(HO)_2P(=O)H}(HO)2​P(=O)H So it contains:

  • two O−H\mathrm{O-H}O−H bonds
  • one P−H\mathrm{P-H}P−H bond

Hence, H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​ has 1 P–H bond.


(iii) H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​ (pyrophosphorous acid)

This is formed by condensation of two molecules of H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​ with loss of one water molecule: 2H3PO3−H2O→H4P2O52H_3PO_3 - H_2O \rightarrow H_4P_2O_52H3​PO3​−H2​O→H4​P2​O5​ Its structure is: (HO)P(=O)−O−P(=O)(OH)H\mathrm{(HO)P(=O)-O-P(=O)(OH)H}(HO)P(=O)−O−P(=O)(OH)H Each phosphorus retains one P−H\mathrm{P-H}P−H bond. So total number of P–H bonds = 1+1=21+1=21+1=2

Hence, H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​ has 2 P–H bonds.


(iv) H4P2O6H_4P_2O_6H4​P2​O6​ (hypophosphoric acid)

Its structure contains a P−P\mathrm{P-P}P−P bond, and each phosphorus is bonded to two OH\mathrm{OH}OH groups and one =O=O=O: (HO)2P(=O)−P(=O)(OH)2\mathrm{(HO)_2P(=O)-P(=O)(OH)_2}(HO)2​P(=O)−P(=O)(OH)2​ There is no P–H bond in this acid.

Hence, H4P2O6H_4P_2O_6H4​P2​O6​ has 0 P–H bonds.


  1. Now evaluate the options:
  • A: H3PO2H_3PO_2H3​PO2​ and H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​
    Both have 2 P–H bonds each. ✅

  • B: H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​ and H4P2O6H_4P_2O_6H4​P2​O6​
    Second one has 0 P–H bonds. ❌

  • C: H4P2O5H_4P_2O_5H4​P2​O5​ and H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​
    H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​ has 1 P–H bond. ❌

  • D: H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​ and H3PO2H_3PO_2H3​PO2​
    H3PO3H_3PO_3H3​PO3​ has 1 P–H bond. ❌

  1. Therefore, the correct answer is: A\boxed{A}A​
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