Question

Why all $P-F$ bonds in $P{F}_5$ are not equivalent ?

• A. $P{F}_5$ has $s{p}^{3}d$ hybridisation, out of five $P-F$ bonds three are equatorial which have different lengths
• B. $P{F}_5$ has $s{p}^3$ hybridisation, out of five $P-F$ bonds two are equatorial which have different lengths
• C. Out of five $P-F$ bonds two are axial and three equatorial. All five bonds have different bond lengths
• D. $P{F}_5$ is made up of two types of bonds namely covalent and coordinate, hence are not equivalent

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

Structure of $P{F}_5$
$P{F}_5$ has three axial bonds and two equitorial bonds and has $s{p}^{3}d$ hybridisation $PC{l}_5$ has trigonal bipyramidal structure .
Due to this two $Cl$ atoms lie along axial line and other three $Cl$ atoms lie along the equatorial plane.
Hence $Cl$ atoms which lie along axis have different bond length than that of $Cl$ atoms lying on equatorial plane.