Question #dd0d4

1 Answer
Mar 13, 2017

The hybridization of "P"P in "PCl"_5PCl5 is "sp"^3"d"sp3d.

Explanation:

The Lewis structure of "PCl"_5PCl5 is

Lewis structure

According to VSEPR theory, a molecule with five bonding pairs must have both a trigonal bipyramidal electron geometry and molecular geometry.

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The "P"P atom needs five orbitals to form the five "P-Cl"P-Cl bonds.

It has a "3s"3s and three "3p"3p orbitals, so it must use one of its "3d"3d orbitals to form the fifth bond.

These orbitals are hybridized to form five "sp"^3"d"sp3d orbitals that (surprise!) just happen to point in the right directions to form a trigonal bipyramid.

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