Multiple choice

Which of the following elements do not form pentachloride?

  1. Nitrogen and phosphorus

  2. Arsenic and phosphorus

  3. Arsenic and bismuth

  4. Nitrogen and bismuth

  5. Nitrogen and antimony
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Both nitrogen and bismuth do not form pentachlorides. Nitrogen with n = 2, has s and p orbitals only. It does not have d orbitals to expand its covalence beyond four. That is why it does not form pentahalide. In bismuth, +5 oxidation state is not stable due to the inert pair effect. So, Bi does not form pentahalides (except BiF5).

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