Which of the following elements can form an expanded octet?

Practice Questions

1 question

Carbon
Nitrogen
Oxygen
Phosphorus

Questions & Step-by-step Solutions

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Q: Which of the following elements can form an expanded octet?

Solution: Phosphorus can form an expanded octet because it has available d orbitals to accommodate more than eight electrons in its valence shell.

Steps: 5

Step 1: Understand what an octet is. An octet means having eight electrons in the outer shell of an atom.
Step 2: Know that some elements can have more than eight electrons in their outer shell. This is called an expanded octet.
Step 3: Identify which elements can form an expanded octet. These are usually elements in the third period or below on the periodic table.
Step 4: Learn that phosphorus (P) is one of those elements. It can use its d orbitals to hold more than eight electrons.
Step 5: Remember that not all elements can do this. Only certain ones, like phosphorus, sulfur, and chlorine, can form expanded octets.

Which of the following elements can form an expanded octet?

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