$\mathrm{ClF}_{5}$ at room temperature is a:

(C) Colourless liquid with square pyramidal geometry

(A) Colourless gas with trigonal bipyramidal geometry.

(B) Colourless gas with square pyramidal geometry

(D) Colourless liquid with trigonal bipyramidal geometry.

JEE Main · 2023 · 13 Apr 2023 · Shift 1 · Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

ClF_{5}

at room temperature is a:

(A)Colourless gas with trigonal bipyramidal geometry.
(B)Colourless gas with square pyramidal geometry
(C)Colourless liquid with square pyramidal geometry✓ Correct
(D)Colourless liquid with trigonal bipyramidal geometry.

Answer: (C)

Solution

In chlorine pentafluoride the central chlorine atom is surrounded by five bonding pairs and one lone pair, a steric number of six with

s p^{3} d^{2}

hybridisation. One position of the octahedral set is taken by the lone pair, so the five fluorine atoms occupy a square pyramidal arrangement. At room temperature chlorine pentafluoride is a colourless liquid with this square pyramidal geometry.

JEE Main · 2023 · 13 Apr 2023 · Shift 1 · Single correct option

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