[bongalez]

Is P2O possible, i.e. P has oxidation no. -3 and O has oxidation no. +6?

[AWK]

So far oxygen shows oxidation numbers from -2 to +1.
Moreover, oxygen shows higher electronegativity than phosphorus, hence you should expect positive oxidation number for P and negative for O.

[Hunter2]

So far oxygen shows oxidation numbers from -2 to +1.

I think +2 is also possible in OF₂.

[AWK]

Of course, my fault. + snack

[vmelkon]

This page
http://www.answers.com/topic/phosphorus-oxide

calls it phosphorus monoxide.
Phosphorus would be in the +1 oxidation state.

[fledarmus]

The only reference to phosphorus monoxide I can find is to PO, not P₂O.

Scifinder (Chem Abstracts) lists four reported compounds with formula P₂O - CAS numbers 114585-26-8, 195068-95-2, 135547-13-6, and 124674-33-5. Only the first seems to have a reasonable body of literature associated with it.

[bongalez]

Thanks guys,

AWk, you were correct. Oxygen has a high electronegativity, so you would expect it to be negative, hence no, it is not possible. My chem teacher also confirmed this.

Thanks guys!

[vmelkon]

The only reference to phosphorus monoxide I can find is to PO, not P₂O.

Scifinder (Chem Abstracts) lists four reported compounds with formula P₂O - CAS numbers 114585-26-8, 195068-95-2, 135547-13-6, and 124674-33-5. Only the first seems to have a reasonable body of literature associated with it.

Is Scifinder something that they use at universities?
I looked at http://www.cas.org/products/scifindr/index.html
and I don't know if it something you pay for or is it free or is it a collaboration between universities.

[fledarmus]

It's actually a commericial product offered by Chemical Abstracts Services. It is such an important tool for chemical research that almost all companies and universities have purchased access. Depending on what type of access your university has, you may need to be part of specific programs or groups to get access. Check with your university library, or your chemistry department library if you have one.