Question

PF3Cl2 is a nonpolar molecule. Based on this information, determine the F−P−F bond angle, the Cl−P−Cl bond angle, and the F−P−Cl bond angle. Enter the number of degrees of the F−P−F, Cl−P−Cl, and F−P−Cl bond angles, separated by commas (e.g., 30,45,90)

Answer 1

Concepts and reason

The polarity arises due a net non-zero dipole moment $\left( {{\rm{\mu }} \ne {\rm{0}}} \right)$ . The polarity of a species is dependent on two factors:

1) electronegativity difference of the individual bonds in the species

2) geometry of the species

Since the given compound is non-polar besides having electronegativity difference, geometry is going to play the key role.

Fundamentals

The shape of a molecule or polyatomic ion can be predicted using Valence Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) approach. This approach predicts shapes based on the repulsion between electrons of the central atom. The atoms of a molecule or polyatomic ion place themselves as far as possible far from each other, to minimize the electron-electron repulsion.

The geometry of the compound is trigonal bipyramidal.

The structure is as follows:

The F-P-F bond angles are all 120^o, the one Cl-P-Cl bond angle is 180^o and the six F-P-Cl bond angles are 90^o each.

Ans:

The F-P-F bond angle is 120^o, the Cl-P-Cl bond angle is 180^o and the F-P-Cl bond angle is 90^o.