Question

Why all P - F bonds in $P{F}_5$ are not equivalent?

• A. $P{F}_5$ has $s{p}^{3}d$ hybridisation, out of five P - F bonds three are equatorial which have different lengths.
• B. $P{F}_5$ has $s{p}^3$ hybridisation, out of five P - F bonds two are equatorial which have different lengths.
• C. Out of five P - F bonds two are axial and three equatorial. All five bonds have different bond lengths.
• D. $P{F}_5$ is made up of two types of bonds namely covalent and coordinate, hence are not equivalent.

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

$P{F}_5$ has $s{p}^{3}d$ hybridisation, out of five P - F bonds three are equatorial which have different lengths.

Structure of $P{F}_5$

$P{F}_5$ has three axial bonds and two equitorial bonds and has $s{p}^{3}d$ hybridisation

PCl₅ has trigonal bipyramidal structure .

Due to this two Cl atoms lie along axial line and other three Cl atoms lie along the equatorial plane.

Hence Cl atoms which lie along axis have different bond length than that of Cl atoms lying on equatorial plane.