Can phosphorus form `PH_(5)` with its outer electronic configuration of `3s^(2)3p^(3)`?

Explanation

Phosphorus cannot form `PH_(5)` although it shows +3 and +5 oxidation states. Dihydrogen acts as a weak oxidising agent due to high bond dissociation enthalpy of H - H bond (435.88 kJ`cdot mol^(-1)`). and slightly negative electron-gain enthalpy (-73 kJ`cdot "mol"^(-1)`). So, dihydrogen can oxidise phosphorus to +3 oxidation state but not to its highest oxidation state of +5. Therefore, phosphorous can form only `PH_(3)` and not `PH_(5)`.