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What property is the polar covalent compound PCl3 likely to exhibit?

A) High melting point
B) Low boiling point
C) Electrical conductivity
D) Nonpolarity

User Xristina
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1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

PCl3, being a polar covalent compound, is likely to exhibit a low boiling point because covalent compounds, in general, have lower boiling points than ionic compounds. It will also display poor electrical conductivity in both solid and liquid states.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the property that the polar covalent compound PCl3 is likely to exhibit, one must understand the nature of covalent compounds. Unlike ionic compounds, covalent compounds generally have low melting and boiling points. Since PCl3 is a polar covalent compound, it will have polar interactions, which can lead to a slightly higher melting point and boiling point than nonpolar covalent compounds. However, it will still not be as high as ionic compounds. Therefore, PCl3 would likely exhibit a lower boiling point compared to ionic solids. Furthermore, due to the molecular nature of PCl3, its electrical conductivity will be quite poor, whether in the solid or liquid state, as covalent compounds are composed of neutral molecules without free ions or electrons to conduct electricity. Therefore, among the provided options, PCl3 would likely exhibit: B) Low boiling point.

User Bcleary
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