Question

why nh3 is highly soluble in water but ph3 is not ?

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Nitrogen is highly electronegative element while phosphorous is not a highly electronegative element. In ammonia, due to presence of lone pair and large difference in electronegativity of hydrogen and nitrogen, it form hydrogen bond with water molecules so it is highly soluble in water.

While in case phosphine there is no large difference in electronegativity of hydrogen and phosphorous so it do not form hydrogen bond with water molecules so it is not highly soluble in water.

Regards