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Rank the members of each set of compounds in order of decreasing ionic character of their bonds.

PC13, PBr3, PF3

User Sam Luther
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Final answer:

PF3 has the highest ionic character due to the greatest electronegativity difference between P and F, followed by PCl3 and then PBr3.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks to rank the compounds PC13 (should be PCl3), PBr3, and PF3 in order of decreasing ionic character of their bonds. The ionic character of a bond is related to the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms involved in the bond. Phosphorus (P) has a set electronegativity, and as the electronegativity of the halogen increases, the ionic character of the bond also increases. Therefore, the bond between P and F in PF3 will have greater ionic character than in PCl3, followed by PBr3 since fluorine is more electronegative than chlorine, which in turn is more electronegative than bromine.

User Hing
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