Chemistry · Covalent Bonding: Concept of electronegativity, Fajan's rule, dipole moment, Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory and shapes of simple molecules
In certain polar solvents undergoes an ionisation reaction in which ion leaves o
In certain polar solvents \( \boldsymbol{P} \boldsymbol{C l}_{5} \) undergoes an ionisation reaction in which \( C l^{-} \) ion leaves one \( P C l_{5} \) molecule and attaches itself to another \( 2 P C l_{5} \rightleftharpoons P C l_{4}^{+}+P C l_{6}^{-} \) What are the changes in the geometrical shapes that occur in this ionisation?
- A. Trigonal Bipyramidal to tetrahedral and octahedral
- B. Trigonal Bipyramidal to pentagonal planar and square planar
- C. Pentagonal planar to tetrahedral and octahedral
- D. None of these
Step-by-step solution
PCl5 initially has a trigonal bipyramidal geometry around P (5 electron pairs). Ionization produces PCl4+ (4 bonding pairs, tetrahedral) and PCl6- (6 bonding pairs, octahedral).