* Electron Configuration: Arsenic has 5 valence electrons (4s² 4p³).
* Bonding: In AsCl₅, arsenic forms five single bonds with five chlorine atoms.
* Hybridization: To accommodate the five bonds, arsenic needs five orbitals. This is achieved by hybridization, where one s orbital, three p orbitals, and two d orbitals combine to form five sp³d² hybrid orbitals.
* Geometry: The sp³d² hybridization results in a trigonal bipyramidal molecular geometry.
In summary: The central arsenic atom in AsCl₅ uses its five valence electrons and five hybrid orbitals (sp³d²) to form five single covalent bonds with five chlorine atoms, resulting in a trigonal bipyramidal structure.
