Using the VSEPR theory, what would you predict the shape of the PCI3 molecule to be?

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Using the VSEPR theory, what would you predict the shape of the PCI3 molecule to be?

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Answer 1 · 2017-05-23T03:00:49

$Trigonal pyramidal...............$ $"Trigonal pyramidal..............."$

Explanation:

There are 4 regions of electron density around the central phosphorus atom: $3 \times P - C l$ $3xxP-Cl$ bonds, and one phosphorus-centred lone pair. These adopt a tetrahedral geometry as the shape which minimizes electron-pair interactions. But because we describe molecular geometry on the basis of bonding pairs of electrons, symmetry descends to trigonal pyramidal.

Because $ddotP$ has a lone pair, which is close to the phosphorus atom, $/_Cl-P-Cl$ should be somewhat compressed from $109.5^@$ .

![en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phosphorus_trichloride](useruploads.socratic.org)

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Using the VSEPR theory, what would you predict the shape of the PCI3 molecule to be?

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Explanation:

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