The hybridisation is sp3d and has trigonal bipyramidal geometry in gaseous and liquid states. It has 3 equatorial P−Cl bonds and two axial P−Cl bonds.
It is pale yellow crystalline solid with a characteristic pungent smell. In solid it exists as[PCl4]+[PCl6]−.
Dissociation:PCl5⇋PCl3+Cl2 Reactions with metals:Zn+PCl5→ZnCl2+PCl3 Reactions with phosphorus pentoxide:6PCl5+P4O10→10POCl3