Q.Are all the five bonds in PCl5 molecule equivalent? Justify your answer.

Step 1 — Geometry of $PCl_5$.

Phosphorus in $PCl_5$ is $sp^3d$ hybridised, giving a trigonal bipyramidal shape: three P–Cl bonds lie in the equatorial plane (120° apart) and two lie along the axial direction (180° apart, perpendicular to the equatorial plane, each 90° to every equatorial bond).

Step 2 — Repulsion analysis.

Each axial bond pair is at 90° to all three equatorial bond pairs (three close 90° repulsions), whereas each equatorial bond pair is at 90° to only two axial bonds and 120° to the other two equatorial bonds (fewer strong repulsions). Axial bonds therefore experience greater net repulsion.

Step 3 — Structural consequence. …

Draw the trigonal bipyramidal geometry, separate bonds into axial vs equatorial sets, and count 90° repulsive interac …

• Don't assume all 5 bonds are identical just because the molecular formula looks symmetric — geometry-based repulsion differences make axial and equatorial bonds distinct. …