Question

Does ${\mathrm{PCl}}_3$ have a covalent or ionic bond?

Answer 1

1. Covalent bond: Sharing of electrons causes the covalent bond. Example- ${\mathrm{CH}}_4,{\mathrm{C}}_2{\mathrm{H}}_6$.
2. Ionic bond: The electronegativity difference of atoms causes the ionic bond. Ionic bond basically the force of attraction between positively charged cation and negatively charged anion.
3. In phosphorus trichloride, there are 3 chlorine atoms attached to one phosphorus atom. They are bonded through a covalent bond as chlorine and phosphorus share their electron.
4. The structure of ${\mathrm{PCl}}_3$ is given as-

Hence, phosphorus trichloride is covalently bonded.