The highest oxidation state shown by manganese is

  • A. plus 2
  • B. plus 4
  • C. plus 7
  • D. plus 6

Explanation

Manganese has five 3d and two 4s electrons, so all seven can be involved in bonding, giving the plus 7 state found in the permanganate ion. That maximum equals the group number, and because the metal is so far from its stable configuration permanganate is a powerful oxidising agent. Plus 4 occurs in manganese dioxide and plus 2 in manganese two salts, which are the most stable.

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