Question

Phosphine like ammonia has very high affinity for water.

(a) True

(b) False

This question was posed to me in semester exam.

I would like to ask this question from P-Block Elements in section P-Block Elements of Chemistry – Class 12

Answer 1

Right answer is (b) False

Best explanation: The ammonia molecule has the capability to form a dative bond due to the lone pair of electrons. There is a formation of H-bond due to strong dipole-dipole attraction between ammonia and water molecules where as in phosphine the H-bond is weak and the P-H bond is non-polar so, it is only slightly soluble in water but highly soluble in non-polar solvents.