For the gaseous PCl ₅ molecule, let d_ ax be the axial P - Cl bond length, d_ eq be the equatorial P - Cl bond length, be the angle between two equatorial bonds, and be the angle between an axial and an equatorial bond. Which of the following mathematical relationships is correct?

Step-by-step solution

In the trigonal bipyramidal geometry of PCl ₅ (which has sp ^3 d hybridization), the three equatorial bonds lie in a plane with an angle of 120^ between them ( = 120^ ). The two axial bonds are perpendicular to the equatorial plane, making an angle of 90^ with the equatorial bonds ( = 90^ ). Thus, > . The axial bond pairs experience greater repulsion from the three equatorial bond pairs at 90^ compared to the equatorial bond pairs, which only experience 90^ repulsion from two axial bond pairs. To minimize this repu