Question

predict the geometry of the following molecules using the VSEPR model.
CO2, NH3 CH4,H2O,SO2,NO2,CLF3,SF6

Answer 1

Answer on Question #43516 - Chemistry - Inorganic Chemistry

Question:

predict the geometry of the following molecules using the VSEPR model.

CO2, NH3 CH4, H2O, SO2, NO2, CLF3, SF6

Answer:

Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory is a model used, in chemistry, to infer, from the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms, the geometry of individual molecules.

We can predict the geometry of a molecule using Lewis dot structure of the molecule.

Lewis dot structure for $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ molecule:

$$\begin{array}{c} \vdots \stackrel {\prime} {\mathrm {O}} = \mathrm {C} = \stackrel {\prime} {\mathrm {O}}; \end{array}$$

There are two electron regions (double bonds) around the central atom, that's why the angle in a molecule is $180^{\circ}$ and this molecule is linear.

$\mathrm{NH}_3$ molecule has 4 electron regions (3 single bonds and lone pair of electron), that's why the geometry of this molecule is triangular pyramid:

$\mathrm{CH}_4$ molecule has 4 electron regions (4 single bonds), that's why the geometry of this molecule is tetrahedral:

$\mathrm{H}_2\mathrm{O}$ has 4 electron regions (2 single bonds and 2 lone pairs of electrons), that's why the geometry of this molecule is bent:

$\mathrm{SO}_2$ and $\mathrm{NO}_2$ have 3 electron regions (1 single bond, 1 double bond and 1 lone pair) each, that's why the geometry of these molecules is bent:

$\mathrm{ClF}_3$ has 5 electron regions or 5 pairs of electrons (3 bonding pairs and two lone pairs). Therefore the geometry is trigonal bipyramidal, but since there are two lone pairs of electrons, the molecule is T-shaped:

$\mathrm{SF}_6$ has 6 electron regions (6 single bonds), that's why the geometry of this molecule is octahedral:

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