Question

The $As{F}_5$ molecule is trigonal bipyramidal.The atomic orbitals used by the $As$ atoms for bonding are:

• A. $d_{x^2-y^2},d_z^2,s,p_x,p_y$
• B. $s,p_x,p_y,p_z$
• C. $s,p_x,p_y,p_z,d_{z^2}$
• D. $d_{x^2-y^2},s,p_x,p_y$

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

$s,p_x,p_y,p_z,d_{z^2}$

Electronic configuration of $As$ $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^{6}3s^{2}3p^{6}3d^{10}4s^{2}4p^3$ and of $F$ is: $1s^{2}2s^{2}2p^5$

$s{p}^{3}d$ hybrid orbitals of $As$ participate in bond formation.

Since $d_{z^2}$ lies along the molecular axis will be used in hybridization and the other combining orbitals are: $s,p_x,p_y,p_z$.