Bond angle in

Question:

Bond angle in is higher than that in PH3. Why?

Solution:

In PH3, P is sp3 hybridized. Three orbitals are involved in bonding with three hydrogen atoms and the fourth one contains a lone pair. As lone pair-bond pair repulsion is stronger than bond pair-bond pair repulsion, the tetrahedral shape associated with sp3 bonding is changed to pyramidal. PH3 combines with a proton to form  in which the lone pair is absent. Due to the absence of lone pair in, there is no lone pair-bond pair repulsion. Hence, the bond angle in is higher than the bond angle in PH3.

Leave a comment