Why dipole moment of $P F_{2} C l_{3}$ is zero but that of $P F_{3} C l_{2}$ is non-zero?

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Solution

The compounds $P F_{3} C l_{2}$ and $P F_{2} C l_{3}$ appear to have a basic trigonal bipyramid structure, $F$ atoms in $P F_{2} C l_{3}$ assume axile positions, while in $P F_{3} C l_{2} .$ The structure is $C_{2 v}$ , in which there are one equatarial and two axial $F$ atoms.
This gives rise to stronger equatarial than axial bonds.
Thus dipole moment cancles out in $P C l_{3} F_{2}$ , whereas it is non-zero in $P C l_{2} F_{3}$ .

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