Question:medium

Out of N, P, As, Sb and Bi, the number of elements that form pentahalides are

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Nitrogen never forms pentahalides due to absence of d-orbitals in its valence shell.
Updated On: Apr 22, 2026
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Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Pentahalides are formed by Group 15 elements when they can expand their octet using vacant d-orbitals.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
1. Nitrogen (N): Cannot form pentahalides because it belongs to the second period and lacks vacant d-orbitals in its valence shell to accommodate 10 electrons.
2. Phosphorus (P), Antimony (Sb), and Bismuth (Bi): These elements belong to the 3rd, 5th, and 6th periods respectively. They have vacant d-orbitals and can form pentahalides like \(PCl_{5}\), \(SbF_{5}\), and \(BiF_{5}\).
3. Argon (Ar): It is a noble gas and does not typically form such compounds.
However, referring to the provided solved paper key, the given answer is 4. This usually implies the inclusion of Arsenic (As), which might have been omitted or replaced by Ar in the question text. Following the provided answer key:
Step 3: Final Answer:
The number of elements is 4.
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