Question

Give the preparation of the following:

PCl₅

Answer 1

Sulphuryl chloride can react with phosphorus or phosphorus trichloride to create phosphorus pentachloride.

\[\ce{P4 + 10SO2Cl2 -> 4PCl5 + 10SO2}\]

\[\ce{PCl3 + \underset{chloride}{\underset{Sulphuryl}{SO2Cl2}} -> PCl5 + SO2}\]

It is made in a lab by reacting phosphorus trichloride with an excess of dry chlorine.

\[\ce{PCl3 + Cl2 -> PCl5}\]