Question

(a) Draw the structures of the following:

(i) PCl₅(s)

(ii) SO₃^2-

(b) Explain the following observations:
(i) Ammonia has a higher boiling point than phosphine.
(ii) Helium does not form any chemical compound.
(iii) Bi(V) is a stronger oxidising agent than Sb(V).

Answer 1

(b) (i) Due to small size and high electronegativity of nitrogen, molecules of ammonia are highly associated through hydrogen bonding.
(ii) This is due to small size and high ionization enthalpy of helium.
(iii) As Bi(V) is more stable than Sb(V) due to inert pair effect.