Explain the trend in oxidation state of elements from nitrogen to…

Question

Explain the trend in oxidation state of elements from nitrogen to bismuth.

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Answer

Group $15$ elements have five valence electrons $(ns^2 np^3).$ Common oxidation states are $-3, +3$ and $+5.$ The range of oxidation state is from $-3$ to $+5.$
Group $15$ elements exhibit positive oxidation states such as $+3$ and $+5$. Due to inert pair effect, the stability of $+5$ oxidation state decreases and $+3$ oxidation state increases on moving down the group.
Group 15 elements show tendency to donate electron pairs in $-3$ oxidation state. This tendency is maximum for nitrogen.
The group 15 elements achieve $+5$ oxidation state only through covalent bonding.
e. g. $NH_3, PH_3, ASH_3, SbH_3,$ and $BiH_3$ contain $3$ covalent bonds. $PCl_5$ and $PF_5$ contain $5$ covalent bonds.

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	Law		Statement
i.	Law of definite proportions	a.	When two elements A and B form more than one compounds, the masses of element B that combine with a given mass of A are always in the ratio of small whole numbers
ii.	Gay Lussac’s law	b.	Equal volumes of all gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal number of molecules
iii.	Law of multiple proportions	c.	When gases combine or are produced in a chemical reaction they do so in a simple ratio by volume, provided all gases are at same temperature and pressure
iv.	Avogadro’s law	d.	A given compound always contains exactly the same proportion of elements by weight