Phosphorus Halides

Beyond its hydride, phosphorus forms an extensive series of halides with the halogens. Two general families exist, distinguished by the oxidation state of phosphorus: the trihalides $PX_3$ (formed with all four common halogens — F, Cl, Br and I) and the pentahalides $PX_5$ (formed only with F, Cl and Br). The two most chemically important members of these families — phosphorus trichl …