Question

The bonds between P atoms and Cl atoms in $Pc{{l}_{5}}$ are likely to be
A. Ionic with no covalent character
B. Covalent with some ionic character
C. Covalent with no ionic character
D. Ionic with some metallic character

Answer 1

Hint: In the given question, we have to tell the bond between P atoms and Cl atoms in $Pc{{l}_{5}}$. We know PCl₅ forms covalent bonds. A covalent bond consists of sharing of electrons between the atoms.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
Phosphorus Pentachloride contains five chlorine atoms and one phosphorus atom. In $Pc{{l}_{5}}$ lewis structure, each chlorine atom is linked with a central phosphorus atom through a single bond or sigma bond. This is a lewis structure of $Pc{{l}_{5}}$, the centre phosphorus atom has made five single bonds with five chlorine atoms. There is a lone pair in the centre of the phosphorus atom and each chlorine atom also has three lone pairs. This means, there are ten electrons around a phosphorus atom.

As we see, P has five electrons in the outer shell. Sharing the 3 more electrons will make it 8 and stable (inert gas electron configuration).When two dissimilar elements are covalently bonded, the electrons aren't shared equally. One of the atoms will attract the electron more than the other. This makes it behave like an ionic bond. Thus PCl₅ has covalent character with some ionic character.
Thus, Option (B) is correct.

Note: Ionic and covalent character tells us about the nature of the bond between atoms. For example, a molecule with a higher ionic character than covalent character means that the atoms have more of a give-and-take for the electrons that make bonds between them. If the bond were described to have higher covalent character, the atoms are sharing the electrons between the atoms.