Question

State the type of hybrid orbitals associated with P in PCl₅.

Answer 1

1. In PCl₅, phosphorus (P) undergoes hybridisation to form five equivalent hybrid orbitals.
2. The type of hybridisation involved is dsp³ (also written as sp³d).
3. This hybridisation combines one s orbital, three p orbitals, and one d orbital from phosphorus.
4. The five dsp³ hybrid orbitals arrange themselves in a trigonal bipyramidal shape.
5. This geometry explains the structure of PCl₅, having three equatorial and two axial positions for chlorine atoms.

Thus, the hybrid orbitals associated with P in PCl₅ are dsp³ hybrid orbitals, leading to a trigonal bipyramidal shape.