How many covalent bonds does PCl3 have?

PCl3 has 3 sigma bonds(P—Cl )bonds and one lone pair so total 4, according to VSEPR theory its electronic arrangemnet will be tetrahedral but due to the presence of lone pair which exert repulsion towards bond pairs its bond angle reduce from actual tetrahedral 109.5 to 107.5 and show trigonal pyramidal geometry.

Why PCl5 is more reactive than PCl3?

As the axial bond pairs suffer more repulsive forces from the equatorial bond pairs, therefore the axial bonds are slightly elongated and hence slightly weaker than equatorial bonds. This makes PCl5 very reactive. Hence it is more reactive than PCl3, though the latter is also quite reactive and fumes in air.

Why does PCl5 dissociate PCl3 and Cl2?

PCl5 on heating gives PCl3 and Cl2 because all the bonds that are present in PCl5 are not similar. It has three equatorial and two axial bonds. The equatorial bonds are stronger than the axial ones. Therefore, when PCl5 is heated strongly, it decomposes to form PCl3.

What type of bonding is PCl3?

covalent molecule
Phosphorus trichloride (PCl3 ) is a covalent molecule.

What is the name of the covalent compound PCl3?

Phosphorus trichloride

Is PCl3 a double bond?

Phosphorus has one single bond, two double bonds, and one lone pair of electrons. Two of the chlorins have one double bond and two lone pairs of electrons. One chlorine has one single bond and three lone pairs of electrons.

Which makes PCl5 highly reactive?

In PCl5, in addition to equitorial bonds which lie in the same plane ,there are axial bonds. Since it suffers more repulsion it is longer than the other bonds. Also these are weak bondsand therefore these bonds can break easily . Because of these reasons,PCl5 is very reactive.

Why is PCl5 unstable?

Answer: PCl5 is unstable because phosphorus forms 5 bonds with cl atoms out of which the two axial bonds have more Bond length than three equatorial Bond length this result in repulsion and thereby making the axial bonds weak.