Symmetry Lab › D3h › Phosphorus pentachloride (gas-phase molecule)
PCl₅ Phosphorus pentachloride (gas-phase molecule)
Trigonal bipyramidal · point group D3h · order 12
- Point group
- D3h — A C3 principal axis, 3 perpendicular C2 axes and a horizontal mirror plane; these also give 3 vertical planes.
- Order
- 12
- Operations
- E, 2C₃, 3C₂, σh, 2S₃, 3σᵥ
- Shape
- Trigonal bipyramidal
- Atoms
- 6 (P, Cl × 5)
Symmetry elements of PCl₅
- C₃ — perpendicular to the plane of three Cl atoms
- C₂ (1) — along one equatorial P–Cl bond
- C₂ (2) — along one equatorial P–Cl bond
- C₂ (3) — along one equatorial P–Cl bond
- σh — the plane of the three equatorial Cl atoms
- σᵥ (1) — contains the C₃ axis and one equatorial bond
- σᵥ (2) — contains the C₃ axis and one equatorial bond
- σᵥ (3) — contains the C₃ axis and one equatorial bond
- S₃ — rotate 120°, then reflect in σh
Structure
- P–Cl equatorial 2.02 Å, axial 2.14 Å
- Cl(eq)–P–Cl(eq) 120°, Cl(ax)–P–Cl(eq) 90°
- No lone pair on P
