The correct increasing order of extent of hydrolysis is : — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Step 1: Recall that the extent of hydrolysis depends on the availability of vacant orbitals (to accept lone pairs from water) and the positive charge density on the central atom. Step 2: Carbon in CCl4 lacks vacant d-orbitals and cannot undergo hydrolysis under normal conditions. For the remaining period 3 chlorides, the positive charge density on the central atom increases as its oxidation state increases. Step 3: Therefore, the ease and extent of hydrolysis increase in the order of CCl4 (none) < MgCl2 < AlCl3 < SiCl4 < PCl5, which corresponds to option (a).