Phosphorus pentafluoride

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Phosphorus pentafluoride
Structure of the phosphorus pentafluoride molecule Space-filling model of the phosphorus pentafluoride molecule
General
Systematic name phosphorus pentafluoride
Other names phosphorus(V) fluoride
pentafluorophosphorus(V)
Molecular formula PF5
Molar mass 125.9685 g mol−1
Appearance colourless gas
CAS number [7647-19-0]
Properties
Density and phase  ?, gas
Vapour density 4.46
Solubility in water decomposes
Melting point −93.78 °C (179.4 K)
Boiling point −84.5 °C (188.7 K)
Molecular shape trigonal bipyramidal
Dipole moment 0 D
Hazards
MSDS External MSDS
Main hazards  ?
NFPA 704
R/S statement R: ?
S: ?
RTECS number  ?
Supplementary data page
Structure and
properties
n, εr, etc.
Thermodynamic
data
Phase behaviour
Solid, liquid, gas
Spectral data UV, IR, NMR, MS
Related compounds
Related phosphorus halides PF3
PCl5
sulfur tetrafluoride
Related pentafluorides SbF5, ClF5, BrF5, IF5, TaF5, UF5
Other related compounds VOF3
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox disclaimer and references

Phosphorus pentafluoride, PF5, is a phosphorus halide. The phosphous atom is in the highest oxidation state possible, +5. PF5 is a highly reactive compound, existing as a colourless gas at room temperature and pressure.

[edit] Structure

Single-crystal X-ray studies indicate PF5 molecule has two distinct P−F bonds (axial and equatorial): P−Fax = 158.0 pm and P−Feq = 152.2 pm. Gas-phase electron diffraction analysis gives similar values: P−Fax = 158 pm and P−Feq = 153 pm.

19F NMR spectroscopy, at temperatures as low as −100 °C fails to distinguish the axial from the equatorial fluorine environments. The apparent equivalency arises from the low barrier for pseudorotation via the Berry mechanism, by which the axial and equatorial fluorine atoms rapidly exchange positions. The apparent equivalency of the F centers in PF5 was first noted by Gutowsky.[1]. The explanation was first described by R. Stephen Berry, after whom the Berry mechanism is named. Berry pseudorotation influences the 19F NMR spectrum of PF5 since NMR spectroscopy operates on a millisecond timescale. Electron diffraction and X-ray crystallography do not detect this effect as their timescales are significantly shorter than for NMR spectroscopy.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Gutowsky, H. S.; McCall, D. W.; Slichter, C. P. "Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Multiplets in Liquids" Journal of Chemical Physics 1953, volume 21, 279.
  • Greenwood, N. N.; A. Earnshaw (1997). Chemistry of the Elements, 2nd Edition, Oxford:Butterworth-Heinemann. ISBN 0-7506-3365-4.