Step 1: Understand the reaction
A carboxylic acid is converted to an acyl chloride when the OH group is replaced by Cl. Different reagents leave different by-products.
Step 2: Write with PCl5
\[ \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{COOH} + \text{PCl}_5 \xrightarrow{\Delta} \text{C}_6\text{H}_5\text{COCl} + \text{POCl}_3 + \text{HCl} \]
Step 3: Match by-products
The question lists benzoyl chloride, phosphorus oxychloride (\(\text{POCl}_3\)) and HCl. This exactly matches the PCl5 reaction.
Step 4: Check others
\(\text{PCl}_3\) gives \(\text{H}_3\text{PO}_3\) as the by-product, \(\text{SOCl}_2\) gives \(\text{SO}_2\) and HCl, and HCl alone cannot replace the acid OH group.
Final Answer:
PCl5 gives POCl3 and HCl as by-products. This is option (C).
\[ \boxed{\text{(C) }\text{PCl}_5} \]