Use the periodic table to comeplete the activity. 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) are likely to bond covalently. Phosphorus has five valence electrons, while chlorine has seven. When they bond, phosphorus can share one of its valence electrons with chlorine, allowing both elements to achieve a more stable electron configuration. This results in the formation of PCl3 or phosphorus trichloride, where one phosphorus atom is covalently bonded to three chlorine atoms. The covalent bond occurs because phosphorus typically shares electrons to reach a stable octet, while chlorine needs only one additional electron to complete its outer shell.