Although fluorine is more electronegative than oxygen, but the ability of oxygen to stabilise higher oxidation states exceeds that of fluorine. Why?


Electronic configuration of

F – 1s2 2s2 2p5


O – 1s2 2s2 2p4


Fluorine has one unpaired electron and forms a single bond, while Oxygen has two unpaired electrons and can form multiple bonds thereby stabilizing higher oxidation states.


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