Step 1: Understanding oxidation states.
In oxyacids, the oxidation state of chlorine is influenced by the number of oxygen atoms attached to it. The more oxygen atoms there are, the higher the oxidation state of chlorine will be. Step 2: Analyzing the options. (A) number of oxygen atoms per molecule: Correct — The oxidation state of chlorine increases as the number of oxygen atoms attached to it increases, as seen in acids like HClO (hypochlorous acid) and HClO₃ (chloric acid). (B) number of chlorine atoms per molecule: Incorrect. The number of chlorine atoms does not directly affect the oxidation state of chlorine in the molecule. (C) oxidation state of oxygen in molecule: Incorrect. The oxidation state of oxygen is typically fixed at -2 in most compounds, and this does not change depending on the molecule. (D) number of lone pair electrons on oxygen atom: Incorrect. The lone pair electrons on oxygen do not affect the oxidation state of chlorine in oxyacids. Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (A) number of oxygen atoms per molecule, as the oxidation state of chlorine in oxyacids increases with the number of oxygen atoms attached to it.
