PCl5 expanded octet question

[Daniela Santana 2L]

How does the P atom in the PCl5 molecule have an expanded octet? A P atom only has 5 valence electrons so wouldn't it be full by being bonded to 5 Cl atoms? How does the expanded octet concept work?

[Simrah_Ahmed1J]

At least for 14A I believe we need to know the exceptions for expanded octets as being P, S, and Cl. Basically, these atoms can accommodate more than 8 electrons in their valence shell because they are atoms in period 3, so they have empty d-orbitals in their valence shell on n=3 which are open to accommodate additional electrons.

[Kaitlyn Hernandez 3I]

In PCl5, P has 10 bonding electrons, thus an expanded octet. Typically elements in Period 3 or higher are allowed to have an expanded octet because they have d orbitals that can accommodate any extra electrons.

[Nathan Lao 2I]

Phosphorus is a period 3 element and has d orbitals that electrons can fill, which allows them to have expanded octets.

[Aria Movassaghi 1A]

Phosphorus is in period 3 thus it can accommodate more than an octet or electrons

[Bai Rong Lin 2K]

How does the P atom in the PCl5 molecule have an expanded octet? A P atom only has 5 valence electrons so wouldn't it be full by being bonded to 5 Cl atoms? How does the expanded octet concept work?

I believe it has to do with it being in period 3.

[Ryan Agcaoili 2E]

Phosphorus is an exception to the octet rule because it is further down in the periodic table, allowing it to hold more than 8 electrons in octet,