Question

What hybrid orbitals are used by phosphorus in the PCl4+ cations?

Answer 1

Phosphorus uses sp³ orbitals in PCl₄⁺.

1. Draw the Lewis structure.

2. Use VSEPR Theory to predict the orbital geometry.

This is an AX₄ ion. It has 4 bonding pairs and no lone pairs. The bonds should point toward the corners of a regular tetrahedron.

3. Use the orbital geometry to predict the hybridization.

Orbitals that point toward the corners of a regular tetrahedron are sp³ hybridized.