Phosphorus Trichloride

Phosphorus Trichloride, PCl3:

Preparation:

PCl3 is made by heating white phosphorus in a current of dry chlorine.

P4 + 6Cl2 → 4PCl3

Dry white phosphorus is positioned in the retort and gently heated on water bath. A current of pure, dry chlorine is led above the phosphorus. The phosphorus trichloride formed being volatile distils over and is gathered in a water cooled receiver.

1425_phosphorous tricloride.jpg

                                                              Figure: Laboratory Preparation of PCl3

The phosphorus trichloride acquired as above contains some PCl5 as impurity. This is eliminated by distilling the PCl3 over white phosphorus.

Physical properties:

1. Colorless low boiling liquid
2. It fumes in moist air
3. It has pungent odor.

Chemical Properties:

1. It is violently hydrolyzed by water providing phosphorus acid and hydrochloric acid gas.

PCl3 + 3 H2O → 3HCl + H3PO3

In a similar way it reacts with organic compounds having hydroxyl (OH) group, like acids and alcohols.

PCl3 + 3CH3COOH → 3CH3COCl + H3PO3
           Acetic Acid     Acetyl Chloride

PCl3 + 3C2H5OH → 3 C2H5Cl + H3PO3
       Ethyl alcohol   Ethyl Chloride

2. It reacts with sulphuryl chloride or chlorine forming phosphorus pentachloride.

PCl3 + Cl2 → PCl5
PCl3 + SO2Cl2 → PCl5 + SO2

3. It readily merges with oxygen forming phosphorus oxychloride

2PCl3 + O2 → 2POCl3

4. It reacts with SO3 to generate phosphorus oxychloride and SO2

SO3 + PCl3 → POCl3 + SO2

Structure:

PCl3 molecule has a pyramidal shape that occurs from sp3 hybridization of phosphorus atom. One of the tetrahedral positions is engaged by a lone pair of electrons.

1475_phosphorous tricloride2.jpg

 

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