What is the hybridization of the central atom in phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5)
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the hybridization of the central atom in phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5)?
sp
sp2
sp3
sp3d
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the hybridization of the central atom in phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5)?
Step 1: Identify the central atom in phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5), which is phosphorus (P).
Step 2: Count the number of chlorine (Cl) atoms bonded to phosphorus. There are five Cl atoms.
Step 3: Determine the number of bonding pairs. Since there are five Cl atoms, there are five bonding pairs.
Step 4: Check for lone pairs on the phosphorus atom. In PCl5, there are no lone pairs on phosphorus.
Step 5: Use the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs to find the hybridization. With five bonding pairs and no lone pairs, the hybridization is sp3d.
