Question

Which of the following is the correct statement for $PH_3$ ?

• A. It is less poisonous than $NH_3$
• B. It is less basic than $NH_3$
• C. Electronegativity of $PH_3 > NH_3$
• D. It does not show reducing properties

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

It is less basic than $NH_3$

Answer 2

Nitrogen is more electronegative than the phosphorus atom. In $NH _{3}$, nitrogen attracts the bonded pair of elctron between $N$ and $H$ atoms towards it, and this effect is more in $NH _{3}$ than in $PH _{3}$. Due to this effect, the lone pair of electrons in $NH _{3}$ can participate more than that of $PH _{3}$.