Chemistry · Group 13 to Group 18 Elements

Which of the following pentahalides does not exist?

Which of the following pentahalides does not exist?

  • A. PF \( _{5} \)
  • B. \( \mathrm{PCl}_{5} \)
  • C. \( \mathrm{PBr}_{5} \)
  • D. PI

Step-by-step solution

Phosphorus forms stable pentahalides with smaller halogens (F, Cl, Br) due to sufficient bond strength, but with iodine, the large size and weak P-I bonds make PI5 unstable. Thus, PI5 does not exist.
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