Using periodic trends,place the following bonds in order of decreasing ionic character. Sb-Cl P-Cl As-Cl

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ionic character of a bond is determined by the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms. Chlorine is common in all bonds, so we compare the electronegativities of Sb, As, and P. Electronegativity decreases down a group, so Sb (being lower in the group) has the least electronegativity, leading to the greatest difference with Cl, thus the highest ionic character. Therefore, Sb-Cl > As-Cl > P-Cl.

Using Periodic Trends,place the Following Bonds in Order of Decreasing