What is the formula of phosphorus pentabromide
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The formula of phosphorus pentabromide is PBr₅.
Explanation:
Phosphorus pentabromide is a chemical compound consisting of the element phosphorus (P) and bromine (Br). Its name, “pentabromide,” indicates that there are five bromine atoms bonded to one phosphorus atom in the molecule.
Formation of PBr₅:
- Phosphorus is in group 15 of the periodic table, meaning it has five valence electrons.
- Bromine, being a halogen in group 17, has seven valence electrons and can form one bond by sharing one electron.
- Phosphorus can form up to five bonds with other atoms, and in phosphorus pentabromide, it bonds with five bromine atoms to achieve a stable configuration. This results in the chemical formula PBr₅.
Bonding and Structure:
- In PBr₅, the phosphorus atom undergoes sp³d hybridization, allowing it to form five bonds with bromine atoms in a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement.
- The molecule has a nonpolar nature due to the symmetry of the bonds, even though bromine is more electronegative than phosphorus.
- PBr₅ is typically a white solid at room temperature and is highly reactive, especially with moisture, where it can decompose to form phosphorus oxybromide (POBr₃) and hydrogen bromide (HBr).
Physical and Chemical Properties:
- PBr₅ is highly reactive due to the nature of its bonds and its tendency to act as a strong electrophile.
- It is soluble in organic solvents like carbon disulfide (CS₂) but decomposes rapidly in water, releasing hydrogen bromide gas (HBr), which is a strong acid.
- Phosphorus pentabromide is often used as a brominating agent in organic chemistry, helping to introduce bromine atoms into organic molecules.
In summary, the formula for phosphorus pentabromide is PBr₅, reflecting its molecular composition, and it plays a significant role in both inorganic and organic chemistry due to its reactive nature.