Is PF5 ionic or molecular?
PF5 is a covalent molecule, meaning it is molecular in nature.
PF5, also known as phosphorus pentafluoride, is a molecular compound.
To determine whether PF5 (phosphorus pentafluoride) is ionic or molecular, we need to consider the types of bonding and the electronegativity difference between the elements involved.
In PF5, phosphorus (P) is bonded to five fluorine (F) atoms. Phosphorus is less electronegative than fluorine, so it tends to donate its electrons.
Phosphorus has five valence electrons, and it needs three more to complete its octet. Each fluorine atom contributes one electron to form a bond, resulting in three shared pairs of electrons and two lone pairs on the phosphorus atom. This gives PF5 a trigonal bipyramidal shape.
Since the electrons are shared between the phosphorus and fluorine atoms, the bonding in PF5 is covalent. Therefore, PF5 is molecular, not ionic.