How to do 166th question?

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1 Answer
anor277
Mar 25, 2018

A very poor question...#(1)# is probably the best answer...

Explanation:

The geometry is based on a trigonal bipyramid, whose equatorial bond angle are #X-P-X=120^@#, and whose axial bond angle #X-P-X=180^@#. However, a trigonal bipyramid is conformationally mobile, and there is a very soft energy of exchange between axial and equatorial substituents (look up so-called #"pseudorotation"#. Given a formula of #PF_3Cl_2#...the fluorides could be all equatorial, i.e. #/_F-P-F-=120^@# or there could be ONE axial fluorine gives #/_F-P-F-=90^@# to a first approx....

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