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Its all down to shape and electronegativity of P and I. P and I have slightly different electronegativities so the P-I bonds would be predicted to be just polar. The shape is predicted by VSEPR theory to be determined by the number of electron pairs around the P atom. In PI3 there are four, three forming the bonds and one lone pair-- - so PI3 is a trigonal pyramid - (electron pairs are roughly tetrahedrally placed and one of them is the lone pair). the molecular symmetry means that any dipole in the bonds is not cancelled out- so expect a very small dipole moment. This is what is found.

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16y ago

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