AIIMS 2000 Chemistry Reactions of p-Block Elements MCQ Question

Hydrolysis is a reaction involving the breaking of a bond in a molecule using water. Among the given options, PCl₅, AsCl₃, and SnCl₄ can undergo hydrolysis to form phosphoric acid, arsenic acid, and stannic acid respectively. However, NCl₃ (Nitrogen trichloride) does not hydrolyze in the same manner due to its stable molecular structure and the absence of a suitable reaction pathway. Thus, it is the correct answer as it is not hydrolyzed. The hydrolysis reactions can be represented as follows:

1. For PCl₅: $\text{PCl}_5 + 4\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_3\text{PO}_4 + 5\text{HCl}$

2. For AsCl₃: $\text{AsCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_3\text{AsO}_3 + 3\text{HCl}$

3. For SnCl₄: $\text{SnCl}_4 + 4\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Sn(OH)}_4 + 4\text{HCl}$

In contrast, NCl₃ does not undergo such hydrolysis under normal conditions, confirming that B is the correct answer.