Final answer:
The bond polarity between phosphorus and hydrogen in the PH₃ molecule is polar covalent, resulting in an uneven distribution of electron density.
Step-by-step explanation:
The bond polarity between phosphorus and hydrogen in the PH₃ molecule is polar covalent. A polar covalent bond occurs when there is a significant difference in electronegativity between the atoms involved. In this case, phosphorus (P) has a lower electronegativity than hydrogen (H), resulting in a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atom and a partial negative charge on the phosphorus atom.
The difference in electronegativity between phosphorus and hydrogen is 0.96, which falls within the range for polar covalent bonds. This creates an uneven distribution of electron density in the PH₃ molecule, with the hydrogen atoms being more positively charged and the phosphorus atom being more negatively charged.
Overall, the bond between phosphorus and hydrogen in PH₃ is polar covalent, meaning that there is an unequal sharing of electrons between the two atoms.