What is the Difference Between Hypervalent and Hypovalent Compounds?

Hypervalent and hypovalent compounds are inorganic covalent compounds containing a central atom. The main difference between these two types of compounds lies in the number of electrons in the valence shell of the central atom.

Hypervalent Compounds:

• Contain a central atom with more than eight electrons in the valence shell.
• The central atom exceeds the octet rule, which states that an atom can have a maximum of eight electrons in its valence shell.
• Hypervalent compounds can exhibit complex structures, such as tetrahedrons or trigonal bipyramids.
• Most hypervalent compounds are ionic species.

Hypovalent Compounds:

• Contain a central atom with less than eight electrons in the valence shell.
• The central atom does not follow the octet rule.
• Hypovalent compounds usually have simpler structures, such as linear or trigonal planar shapes.
• Almost all hypovalent compounds are covalent compounds.

Some examples of hypovalent compounds include BeCl2, BF3, and BCl3. Examples of hypervalent compounds can be found in options A, C, and D of the given question, where the central atoms (Cl, B, and S) have more than eight electrons in their valence shells.

Comparative Table: Hypervalent vs Hypovalent Compounds

Examples of hypervalent compounds include sulfur hexafluoride and phosphorus pentachloride. Hypovalent compounds, on the other hand, are mostly powder or granular compounds.