Phosphorus and chlorine would most likely form a covalent bond. This is because both elements are nonmetals and tend to share electrons rather than transfer them. Phosphorus has five valence electrons and chlorine has seven, so they would need to share three electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. This would result in the formation of a phosphorus trichloride molecule (PCl3).
Correct! Phosphorus and chlorine would most likely form a covalent bond. In a covalent bond, the atoms share electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration. In the case of phosphorus and chlorine, phosphorus needs three more electrons to fill its outer shell, while chlorine needs only one more electron. By sharing three electrons, phosphorus and chlorine achieve a stable configuration, forming a covalent bond. This results in the formation of a phosphorus trichloride molecule (PCl3).
