What is the hybridization of the central atom in phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5)?
Practice Questions
1 question
Q1
What is the hybridization of the central atom in phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5)?
sp
sp2
sp3
sp3d
In PCl5, phosphorus has five bonding pairs and no lone pairs, leading to sp3d hybridization.
Questions & Step-by-step Solutions
1 item
Q
Q: What is the hybridization of the central atom in phosphorus pentachloride (PCl5)?
Solution: In PCl5, phosphorus has five bonding pairs and no lone pairs, leading to sp3d hybridization.
Steps: 5
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.
