Determine if phosphorus trihydride, PH 3 , is polar or nonpolar.

Determine if phosphorus tri trihydride, PH 3, is polar or nonpolar. So phosphorus is in group 5 a. Hydrogen is in group 1 a, but there's 3 of them. So that gives us a total of 8 valence electrons. Phosphorus is the one that has to go in the center because hydrogen can't ever go in the center. We're gonna do single bonds to the hydrogens. Remember that hydrogens follow the duet rule so they only need 2 electrons, so we don't put any additional electrons around the hydrogens. At this moment, we're using 6 valence electrons which means we have 2 remaining. Those would have to go on to the central element of phosphorus. If we take a look here, this is not a perfect shape. Because remember, to be a perfect shape, the central element cannot have any lone pairs and all the surrounding elements must be the same. Here, my central element has a lone pair. Because it's not a perfect shape, that means that this molecule compound is polar. So pH 3 is polar.

Table of contents

Skip topic navigation

1. Matter and Measurements4h 31m
2. Atoms and the Periodic Table5h 23m
3. Ionic Compounds2h 18m
4. Molecular Compounds2h 18m
5. Classification & Balancing of Chemical Reactions3h 17m
6. Chemical Reactions & Quantities2h 27m
7. Energy, Rate and Equilibrium3h 46m
8. Gases, Liquids and Solids3h 25m
9. Solutions4h 10m
10. Acids and Bases3h 29m
11. Nuclear Chemistry56m
BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions47m
12. Introduction to Organic Chemistry1h 34m
13. Alkenes, Alkynes, and Aromatic Compounds2h 12m
14. Compounds with Oxygen or Sulfur1h 6m
15. Aldehydes and Ketones1h 1m
16. Carboxylic Acids and Their Derivatives1h 11m
17. Amines39m
18. Amino Acids and Proteins1h 51m
19. Enzymes1h 37m
20. Carbohydrates1h 41m
21. The Generation of Biochemical Energy2h 8m
22. Carbohydrate Metabolism2h 22m
23. Lipids2h 26m
24. Lipid Metabolism1h 45m
25. Protein and Amino Acid Metabolism1h 37m
26. Nucleic Acids and Protein Synthesis2h 54m

4. Molecular Compounds

Molecular Polarity (Simplified)

GOB Chemistry

4. Molecular Compounds

Molecular Polarity (Simplified)

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with GOB Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

Determine if phosphorus trihydride, PH₃, is polar or nonpolar.

polar

nonpolar

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the molecular geometry of phosphorus trihydride (PH3). PH3 has a central phosphorus atom bonded to three hydrogen atoms, with a lone pair of electrons on the phosphorus.

Determine the shape of the molecule. The presence of the lone pair on the phosphorus atom results in a trigonal pyramidal shape for PH3.

Consider the electronegativity of the atoms involved. Phosphorus and hydrogen have different electronegativities, with phosphorus being more electronegative than hydrogen.

Evaluate the distribution of electron density. The difference in electronegativity between phosphorus and hydrogen creates polar bonds, with a partial negative charge on the phosphorus and partial positive charges on the hydrogens.

Assess the overall molecular polarity. Due to the asymmetrical shape and the polar bonds, the dipole moments do not cancel out, resulting in a polar molecule.