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11 grade chemistry others

What kind of a molecule is PCl₃?
A.) Ionic
B.) Polar covalent
C.) Non-polar covalent
D.) Coordinate

Profile image of Aniket Singh
1 Year agoGrade
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1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
1 Year ago

To determine the type of molecule \(\text{PCl}_3\) (phosphorus trichloride) is, we can analyze its bonding and molecular geometry.

### Steps to Determine the Type of Bonding:

1. **Molecular Composition**:
- Phosphorus (P) is a non-metal, and chlorine (Cl) is also a non-metal. The bond formed between non-metals is typically covalent.

2. **Electronegativity**:
- Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons.
- The electronegativity values are approximately:
- P: 2.19
- Cl: 3.16
- The difference in electronegativity between phosphorus and chlorine is \(3.16 - 2.19 = 0.97\). Since this value is less than 1.7, the bonds are classified as covalent rather than ionic.

3. **Molecular Geometry**:
- \(\text{PCl}_3\) has a trigonal pyramidal shape due to the presence of a lone pair of electrons on phosphorus. This lone pair repels the bonding pairs, causing the molecule to have an asymmetrical shape.

4. **Polarity**:
- In a trigonal pyramidal shape, the dipole moments of the \(\text{P-Cl}\) bonds do not cancel out because of the lone pair, making the molecule polar.

### Conclusion:
Considering all the points above, the bonds in \(\text{PCl}_3\) are **covalent** and the molecule is **polar** due to its asymmetrical shape.

Thus, the correct answer is:
**B.) Polar covalent**.