What is the total number of valence electrons in a phosphite ion,PO₃3-?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Phosphite ion has a charge of 3-, which means it has gained three electrons. To find the total number of valence electrons, we sum the valence electrons for each atom and add three electrons for the charge:
Valence electrons for P: 5
Valence electrons for O: 3 x 6 = 18 (3 oxygens each contributes 6 valence electrons)
Total valence electrons: 5 + 18 = 23
Adding the three electrons gained by the ion gives a total of 26 electrons in the phosphite ion.

What Is the Total Number of Valence Electrons in a Phosphite