In 3–5 sentences, predict how phosphorus and chlorine would bond. Explain why they would bond that way.

Answer 1

Phosphorus (P) and chlorine (Cl) would likely bond covalently, resulting in the formation of phosphorus trichloride (PCl₃). This is because phosphorus has five valence electrons and needs three more to achieve a stable octet, while chlorine has seven valence electrons and requires one more to complete its octet. By sharing electrons in a covalent bond, phosphorus and chlorine can achieve more stable electronic configurations. The strong electronegativity difference between the two elements also means that phosphorus does not easily lose its electrons to chlorine, which favors covalent bonding over ionic bonding in this case.