What is the Electron Configuration, Lewis Structure, Molecular Geometry, and Electronic Geometry for PCl₅?

Electron Configuration:
Phosphorus (P) has an atomic number of 15, so its electron configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p³. In PCl₅, phosphorus uses its 3s, 3p, and 3d orbitals to form bonds with chlorine atoms.

Lewis Structure:
In the Lewis structure of PCl₅, phosphorus is the central atom surrounded by five chlorine atoms. Phosphorus shares one electron with each chlorine atom, forming five single covalent bonds. The Lewis structure can be represented as:

    Cl
    |
Cl—P—Cl
    |
    Cl

Molecular Geometry:
The molecular geometry of PCl₅ is trigonal bipyramidal. This geometry results from the arrangement of five electron pairs around the central phosphorus atom, with three pairs in the equatorial plane and two pairs in the axial positions.

Electronic Geometry:
The electronic geometry of PCl₅ is also trigonal bipyramidal. This is because the arrangement of electron pairs (both bonding and lone pairs) around the central atom determines the electronic geometry. In PCl₅, all five electron pairs are bonding pairs, leading to the same geometry as the molecular geometry.