Identification of the hybridization of an atom in a molecule can often act as a good guide to the kind of chemical reactions it can undergo and help in the interpretation of its spectroscopic observations. What is the hybridization of phosphorus in PF₅?

ANTICIPATE To form five bonds, five hybrid orbitals are needed, which suggests that a d-orbital should be involved as well as the four s- and p-orbitals of a valence shell.

PLAN Choose the hybridization scheme to match the electron arrangement predicted by the VSEPR model, using N atomic orbitals to form N hybrid orbitals.