Question

Explain how Phosphorus pentachloride works!

Answer 1

\[PCl _{5}\] has a trigonal bipyramidal shape since it has five valence electrons(VB Theory) and five chlorines approaches it so it assumes above given shape as it's best possible shape.Now,\[PCl _{5}\] is more reactive than \[PCl _{3}\] due to more constrained shape than relatively open in \[PCl _{3}\].

Answer 2

Thanks, but is there a post-VB theory explanation?