PF2Cl3 Lewis Structure & Characteristics: 13 Complete Facts

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PF2Cl3 or phosphorus difluro trichloride is a phosphorus compound. Let us discuss about PF2Cl3 .

PF2Cl3 or phosphorus difluro trichloride is formed when two chlorine atoms in phosphorus pentachloride is replaced by fluorine atom. Here two halogen atoms like Fluorine and chlorine is attached with phosphorus.

Let us study about PF2Cl3 lewis structure, geometry in the following sections.

How to Draw PF2Cl3 Lewis Structure?

Lewis Structure is most simple representation of valence shell electrons in an atom. Let us study the Lewis structure of PF2Cl3.

Calculate the total valence electrons

In PF2Cl3 Phosphorus with five electrons combines with fluorine and chlorine having seven electrons. So total 5+7×2+7×3= 40 electrons.

Making bonds in between them

Ten electrons are used to make bonds in between Phosphorus with two Fluorine and three chlorine atoms. Rest of the electrons are distributed by satisfying its octet rule.

pf2cl3 lewis structure
Lewis structure of PF2Cl3

PF2Cl3 Lewis Structure Shape

Shape of a molecule can be distorted when there is lone pairs associated with the central atom. Let us know about the shape of PF2Cl3.

The shape of PF2Cl3 is triagonal bipyramidal. Here the central phosphorus atom is attached with five atoms. Phosphorus doesn’t has any lone pairs in it.

So the five atoms attached with phosphorus is arranged in a triagonal bipyramidal model with two Fluorine atoms in axial position and three chlorine in equitorial positions.

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Shape of PF2Cl3

PF2Cl3 Lewis Structure Formal Charge

Formal charge of any molecule can be easily found out through a simple equation. Let us calculate the formal charge of PF2Cl3.

The formal charge of PF2Cl3 lewis structure is zero. All the atoms present in PF2Cl3 has zero formal charge. It is found out through the below equation.

Formal charge= valence electrons- No. Of bonds -non bonded electrons

  • Formal charge of phosphorus =5-0-5=0
  • Formal charge of chlorine= 7-6-1=0
  • Formal charge of Fluorine=7-6-1=0

PF2Cl3 Lewis Structure Angle

The angle made between the bonds of a compound is its bond angle. Let us know about the bond angle of PF2Cl3.

The bond angle of PF2Cl3 is 900 and 1200. The bond angle is not same for all the bonds. Equitorial bonds has an angle of 1200 and axial bonds with 900. The bond length of axial and equitorial is 1.546A0 and 2.004 A0 respectively.

PF2Cl3 Lewis Structure Octet Rule

Octet rule states that atoms with eight electrons in the outer shell after bonding will be stable. Let us check whether PF2Cl3 obeys octet or not.

PF2Cl3 obeys octet rule except phosphorus. Phosphorus is an exception to octet rule. Due to the presence of extra orbital it can accommodate more than eight electrons . So it’s valency is expanded and said to be hypervalent.

But chlorine and Fluorine atoms has only eight electrons in its outer shell. So they obeys octet rule.

PF2Cl3 Lewis Structure Lone Pairs

Lone pairs usually won’t participate in bonding. Let us see the lone pairs present in PF2Cl3.

The lone pairs present in PF2Cl3 is 15. Except phosphorus the three chlorine and two Fluorine atoms has three lone pairs in them. So fifteen lone pairs or 30 non bonded electrons.

PF2Cl3 Valence Electrons

The electrons present in the outer shell which took part in bonding is valence electrons. Let us know about the valence electrons in PF2Cl3.

The total valence electrons in PF2Cl3 is 40. Phosphorus has five valence electrons which combines with two fluorine and three chlorine. Since chlorine and fluorine is halogens it has seven electrons in the outer shell.

PF2Cl3 Hybridization

Hybridisation can result new orbitals with same energy and orientation. Let us know about the hybridisation in PF2Cl3.

The hybridisation of PF2Cl3 is sp3d. One s, three p and one d orbital of phosphorus overlapp together to form sp3d hybrid orbitals with same energy. The half filled orbitals of Fluorine and chlorine then overlaps with this five orbitals to undergo sp3d hybridization.

Is PF2Cl3 Polar or Non Polar?

Symmetry and dipole moments are two factors associated with the polarity of a compound. Let us see PF2Cl3 is polar or not.

PF2Cl3 is a non polar molecule. It’s because of the symmetry of the molecule. PF2Cl3 is non polar because of its symmetric shape. The chlorine atoms in the equitorial positions lie in same plane whose dipole moment cancels out.

Similarly the dipole moment of Fluorine atoms in the axial positions also cancels out. Hence it’s net dipole moment is zero and is non polar.

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Dipole Moment in PF2Cl3

Is PF2Cl3 Electrolyte?

Electrolyte has the ability to dissociate and give ions when dissolved in water. These ions can migrate and conduct electricity. Let us check whether PF2Cl3 is an electrolyte or not.

PF2Cl3 is not an electrolyte. Electrolyte produces ions when dissolved in water to conduct electricity.PF2Cl3 when dissolved in water gives phosphurus oxyhalides and hydrogen chloride. They are not ions and don’t has the ability to conduct electricity.

If dissolved in hot water it can form orthophoshoric acid and hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride. That’s also not able to conduct electricity. That’s why it is regarded as non electrolyte.

Is PF2Cl3 Ionic or Covalent?

The bonds involved in ionic compounds are called ionic bond. Let us see PF2Cl3 is ionic or not.

PF2Cl3 is a covalent bonded compound. All the atoms share their electrons each other to form the five bonds present there.Phosphorus with five valence electrons shares it’s electrons with two Fluorine and three chlorine having seven valence electrons.

Each of them shares one of its electrons each other to form five stable bonds in PF2Cl3.

Is PF2Cl3 Soluble In Water?

Water is one of the common solvent used for dissolving most of the substances. Let us see PF2Cl3 is soluble in water or not.

PF2Cl3 is soluble in water. When dissolved in water PF2Cl3 reacts to give products.PF2Cl3 is reacts with water to form phosphorus oxychlorides and hydrogen chloride.

Is PF2Cl3 Solid or Gas?

Gases doesn’t have definite shape and volume while solid has. Let us discuss whether pf2cl3 is solid or gas.

PF2Cl3 is solid. It is phosphorus halide compound so will exist so.All the phosphurus halides will exist in both solid and liquid form. It will not exist as gas. PCl5, PF5, PBr5 exist in both solid and liquid state. Hence PF2Cl3 will also exist in that form.

Conclusion

PF2Cl3 or phosphorus difluro trichloride is a phosphorus halide with 40 valence electrons. It’s hybridization is sp3d with triagonal bipyramidal structure with 900 and 1200 bond angle. It’s all other characteristics were described in this article.

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