Chemistry 9701 · AS & A Level · Chemical bonding

Chemical bonding — practice question

Phosphorus can make two chlorides. Phosphorus(III) chloride, $\text{PCl}_3$, is a covalent liquid, whereas phosphorus(V) chloride is an ionic solid. One of the ions present is $[\text{PCl}_4]^+$. What is the shape of the $\text{PCl}_3$ molecule and the $[\text{PCl}_4]^+$ ion?

  • A$\text{PCl}_3$: pyramidal; $[\text{PCl}_4]^+$: square planar
  • B$\text{PCl}_3$: pyramidal; $[\text{PCl}_4]^+$: tetrahedral
  • C$\text{PCl}_3$: tetrahedral; $[\text{PCl}_4]^+$: square planar
  • D$\text{PCl}_3$: trigonal planar; $[\text{PCl}_4]^+$: tetrahedral

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