Explain why PCl5 is trigonal bipyramidal whereas IF5 is square pyramidal.

In PCl5, P has 5 valence electrons in orbitals. To make 5 bonds with 5 Cl atoms, it will share one of its electrons from 3s to 3d orbital, therefore the hybridization will be sp3d.


And with sp3d hybridization, the geometry will be trigonal bipyramidal.


IF5, the Iodine atom has 7 valence electrons in molecular orbitals.


Thus, Iodine will form 5 bonds with 5 Cl atoms using 5 electrons from its molecular orbital, two electrons will form one lone pair on Iodine atom, which gives the square pyramidal geometry to IF5 molecule.


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