What is the electronegativity of PCl₃?

PCl₃:
E of P is 2,19 E oc Cl is 3,16
ΔE=3,16-2,19 ΔE=0,97

Answered by Yipes | 2024-06-10

PCl₃, or phosphorus trichloride, has polar bonds due to the electronegativity difference of approximately 0.97 between phosphorus (2.19) and chlorine (3.16). This makes it a polar molecule overall. The bonds in PCl₃ are moderately polar covalent.

Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons. In order to determine the electronegativity of PCl₃, it's important to understand the electronegativity of individual atoms that make up the molecule. The electronegativity of phosphorus (P) is approximately 2.19 on the Pauling scale, and the electronegativity of chlorine (Cl) is about 3.16.
Since PCl₃ (phosphorus trichloride) is a covalent molecule consisting of three P-Cl bonds, the difference in electronegativity between phosphorus and chlorine results in polar covalent bonds. Given that the electronegativity difference (ΔX) between P and Cl is around 0.97 (3.16 - 2.19), the bonds are moderately polar.
Therefore, the molecule PCl₃ will have polar bonds and a net dipole moment due to the difference in electronegativity between phosphorus and chlorine. This contributes to PCl₃ being a polar molecule overall.

Answered by ShiaLabeouf | 2024-06-25

PCl₃, or phosphorus trichloride, contains polar covalent P-Cl bonds due to the electronegativity difference between phosphorus (2.19) and chlorine (3.16), which is about 0.97. This polarity contributes to the overall polarity of the molecule. Thus, PCl₃ is classified as a polar molecule.
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Answered by ShiaLabeouf | 2024-10-10