Cliffs AP Chemistry, 3rd Edition

Answer

2. (a)Restatement: Electron configuration of P.
   1s^2 2s^2 2p^6 3s^2 3p^3
   (b)Restatement: Quantum numbers for valence electrons in P.
   Here’s a good place to use the chart format.

Electron Number n l ml ms

11 3 00+1/2

12 3 0 0 −1/ 2

13 3 11+1/2

14 3 10+1/2

15 3 1 −1+1/2

(c)Restatement: P paramagnetic or diamagnetic? Explain.

Phosphorus is paramagnetic, because a paramagnetic atom is defined as having mag-

netic properties caused by unpairedelectrons. The unpaired electrons are found in the

3 porbitals, each of which is half-filled.

(d)Restatement: Explain how PCl 3 , PCl 5 , PCl 4 +, PCl 6 – , and P 4 exist in nature.

Here’s another question where the chart format is appropriate.

PCl 3 PCl 5 PCI 4 + PCl 6 - P 4

Type of covalent covalent covalent covalent covalent

bond

Lewis

structure

Geometry pyramidal triangular tetrahedral octahedral tetrahedral

bipyramidal

Hybridization sp^3 sp^3 dsp^3 sp^3 d^2 sp^3

P

P

P P

Cl

Cl

P

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

+ −

P

ClClCl

Cl

P

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

Cl

P

ClClCl

Electronic Structure of Atoms