Question 9

What happens when PCl5 is heated?

Answer

Phosphorus forms two type of halides i.e phosphorus trihalides (PCl3) and phosphorus pentahalide PCl5. In PCl5 phosphorus undergoes sp3 d hybridization and has trigonal bipyramidal structure .It has three equatorial P-Cl bonds and two axial P-Cl bonds which are different. The axial bonds(219pm) are larger than equatorial bonds(204pm). PCl5 is thermally less stable than PCl3.On heating it sublimes but decomposes on stronger heating into trichloride and chlorine.The reaction involved is as under:

          heat 

PCL5   →   PCL3 + CL2

It is a reversible reaction,in which PCl3 combines with Cl2 to form PCl5.

Popular Questions of Class 12 Chemistry

1 Comment(s) on this Question

Write a Comment: