All AP Chemistry Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #91 : Compounds And Molecules
What is the shape of the SO2 molecule?
Square planar
Bent
Linear
Octahedral
Trigonal planar
Bent
The answer to this question can be determined by drawing a Lewis structure of the molecule. The S atom is central, with an O atom on each side. Adding in double bonds to each O atom and placing lone pairs on the O atoms give them each an octet, which leaves 2 more lone pairs of electrons to go on the S atom, creating a bent shape.
Example Question #1 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
VSEPR theory predicts that a BF3 molecule will be which of the following shapes?
Square planar
Bent
Trigonal planar
Tetrahedral
Trigonal planar
Molecules with three atoms around a central atom such as BF3 are trigonal planar because electron repulsion is minimized by positioning the three attachments toward the corners of an equilateral triangle.
Example Question #1 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
Which of the following is not a characteristic of a preferred Lewis structure?
Less separation between opposite charges
Multiple bonds between atoms
Negative formal charges placed on more electronegative atoms
Small or no formal charges
Multiple bonds between atoms
Multiple bonds, although they may be stronger, are not necessarily favored in a Lewis structure. It is dependent on the atoms involved. Thus, this is not a criterion used in determining a preferred Lewis structure.
Example Question #1 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
Consider the following reaction, which occurs at high temperatures with a silver catalyst:
What is the change in the geometry of the carbon atom between the reactant and the product?
Tetrahedral to trigonal planar
Square planar to trigonal planar
Tetrahedral to trigonal pyramidal
Square planar to trigonal pyramidal
Trigonal planar to tetrahedral
Tetrahedral to trigonal planar
In the reactant, , the carbon is bound to three hydrogens and one oxygen, and it has no lone pairs, so it has a tetrahedral geometry. In the product, , the carbon is bound to two hydrogens and one oxygen, so it must be double bonded to the oxygen in order to have a complete octet. Therefore, it has a trigonal planar geometry.
Example Question #2 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
Figure 1: Ammonia gas formation and equilibrium
What type of geometry does ammonia exhibit?
Trigonal pyramidal
Tetrahedral
See-saw
Bent
Octahedral
Trigonal pyramidal
Ammonia exhibits a tetrahedral electron pair geometry. It has three bonded pairs (between nitrogen and each hydrogen), and one lone pair (on nitrogen). This combination forms a trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry.
Example Question #2 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
For which of the following molecules are the molecular and electronic geometries NOT the same?
SO3
BeBr2
SiH4
PCl3
PCl3
The molecular geometry refers to the shape of the molecule's atoms, while the electronic geometry refers to the shape of the molecule's atoms and lone pair electrons. PCl3 has a trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry and a tetrahedral electronic geometry. All other answers have no lone pairs, and therefore have the same molecular and electronic geometries.
Example Question #3 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
What is the molecular geometry of ammonia (NH3)?
Trigonal pyramidal
See-saw
Tetrahedral
Trigonal planar
Trigonal pyramidal
This answer relies on remembering that ammonia has a lone electron pair in order to fill its valence shell. Without this lone pair, trigonal planar would be correct, however, since this electron pair is present, it repels the three hydrogens further away from a planar configuration. This results in a trigonal pyramidal shape.
Example Question #1 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
Which of the following compounds has an octahedral geometry?
The only answer choice that works is platinum hexafluoride. The platinum molecule is able to bind six fluorine molecules due to the availability of d orbitals in its valence shell. The octahedral shape looks like two pyramids with four sides each that have been stuck together by their bases. We can imagine the platinum at the middle with the six fluorines at each of the vertices of the pyramids. To have the octahedral shape, a molecule must have a central atom and six constituents.
Example Question #4 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
has a trigonal bipyramidal geometry. What are the two bond angles present in ?
In order for the five chlorine atoms around phosphorus to be distanced from one another, they will orient themselves in a trigonal bipyramidal fashion. This results in trigonal planar geometry in the x-axis. There is also one chlorine atom sticking up out of the plane, and one chlorine atom sticking down out of the plane. This results in the chlorine atoms in the trigonal planar geometry being 120o away from each other, and the chlorine atoms in the y-axis being 90o away from the chlorine atoms in the trigional planar geometry.
Example Question #11 : Vsepr And Bond Hybridization
What is the molecular shape of ?
Octahedral
Trigonal pyramidal
Tetrahedral
Trigonal planar
Trigonal bipyramidal
Trigonal pyramidal
NH3 is trigonal pyramidal because it has 4 electron domains, one of them being a lone pair of electrons and the other three being H atoms. When this is arranged in a three-dimensional space, it is trigonal pyramidal in shape.
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