Chemistry 12th Edition

Published by McGraw-Hill Education
ISBN 10: 0078021510
ISBN 13: 978-0-07802-151-0

Chapter 4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solutions - Questions & Problems - Page 161: 4.53

Answer

Please see the work below.

Work Step by Step

We know that oxygen is the strongest oxidizing agent. In $SO_3$, the oxidation number of Sulfur is at its maximum value at +6; thus, Sulfur cannot be oxidized further. In nitric and phosphoric compounds, the oxidation states can be increased with the addition of oxygen because they are not in their maximum value.
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