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Question

PCl5 Exists but NCl5 Does Not Why?


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Solution

PCl5 exists but NCl5 does not:

  • Phosphorous belongs to the second period of the periodic table, hence it does have vacant d orbitals which it can use to expand its octet during bond formation.
  • Hence, in the formation of PCl5, Phosphorous uses its five d-orbitals by expanding its the octet to form five bonds with the five respective Chlorine atoms.
  • However, the nitrogen belongs to the first period, having no vacant d orbitals to expand further for bond formation
  • Thus, the molecule ,NCl5 does not exist as there are no d-orbitals available in the Nitrogen valence shell, for which there is no way to arrange five pairs of bonding electrons around a nitrogen atom, and formation of five bonds with the five Chlorine atoms.

Hence, the reason why PCl5 exists but NCl5 does not, has been explained above.


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