Question

Nitrogen does not form NCl₅ or NF₅ but phosphorus can. Explain.

Answer 1

• The electronic configuration of 7N is 1s2 2s2 2p3 while that of 15P is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p³ .
• As phosphorus contains d orbitals, it can expand its octet to form MX₃ as well MX₅ compounds.
• However, due to absence of d orbitals, nitrogen cannot form MX₃ or MX₅.

Hence, Nitrogen does not form NCl₅ or NF₅ but phosphoms can form compounds like PCl₅ or PF₅.