Question

The angles between covalent bonds is maximum in-
A)CH4 B)BF3 C)PF3 D)NH3
Please explain.

Answer 1

Answer on Question #44845 – Chemistry – Inorganic Chemistry

Question

The angles between covalent bonds is maximum in-

A) CH₄

B) BF₃

C) PF₃

D) NH₃

Please explain.

Answer

Correct answer is B) BF₃

Since there is no unpaired electrons or lone pairs on boron atom in BF₃, molecular geometry and electron pair geometry of this substance is **trigonal planar**. The maximum possible angle between three bonds in such planar molecule is 120°.

There are four bonds in CH₄, so the maximum possible angle between them is 109.5° and molecular geometry is tetrahedral.

There are three bonds in NH₃ and PF₃ but these molecules are not planar because of the lone pair on the central atoms. The molecular geometry of these species is trigonal pyramid (electron pair geometry is tetrahedral) due to the repulsion between bonds and the orbital with lone pair. Angles between covalent bonds are 106.7° in NH₃ and 96.3° in PF₃.

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