Chapter 18, Problem 7TE

Solution

To determine: The chemical formula of phosphine. It is given that phosphine is a covalent compound of phosphorus, P, and hydrogen, H.

Answer:

The chemical formula of phosphine is ${\text{PH}}_3$ .

Explanation:

The phosphorus and hydrogen atoms basically combine to form phosphine. The phosphorus atom contains five electrons in valence shell whereas hydrogen contains one electron in valence shell.

The Phosphorus atom generates three covalent bonds through sharing its three electrons from five valence electrons with the three hydrogens and remaining two electrons will exists as lone pair. Thus to produce phosphine one phosphorus atom gets combined with three hydrogen atoms through three covalent bonds.

Thus, the chemical formula of phosphine is ${\text{PH}}_3$.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the chemical formula of phosphine is ${\text{PH}}_3$.