In PH₃, P is sp³ hybridized. Three orbitals are involved in bonding with three hydrogen atoms and the fourth one contains a lone pair. As lone pair-bond pair repulsion is stronger than bond pair-bond pair repulsion, the tetrahedral shape associated with sp³ bonding is changed to pyramidal. PH₃ combines with a proton to form in which the lone pair is absent. Due to the absence of lone pair in , there is no lone pair-bond pair repulsion. Hence, the bond angle in is higher than the bond angle in PH₃.