Question

According to Laura, the compound with the chemical name phosphorus trichloride has one atom of phosphorus and four atoms of chlorine. Is she correct in saying this? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

I think she is wrong because if it is phosphorus TRIchloride then as it says in its name there are three atoms of chlorine in it, not four. 

Answer 2

Answer:

She is incorrect

Explanation:

According to the question the compounds name is phosphorus trichloride . Phosphorus trichloride can be simply translated as PCl3 . The tri indicates that the chlorine atom exist as 3 atom of chlorine .

phosphorus has an atomic number of 15 and chlorine has an atomic number of 17. Phosphorus has electronic configuration of 2 8 5 , that means it requires about 3 electrons to satisfy the octet rule. Chlorine has a configuration of 2 8 7. Phosphorus atom shares  electrons with the 3 atoms of chlorine. Phosphorus is covalently bonded with chlorine sharing 3 pairs of electrons.

Phosphorus trichloride PCl3 has 1 atom of phosphorus and 3 atoms of chlorine and not 4 atoms of chlorine. Laura is definitely incorrect.