Exercise 1 | Prediction of Molecular Geometries

Chapter 8 - Prediction of Molecular Geometries

What is the electron pair geometry and the molecular shape of the following molecules:

H₂O, SiO₂, AlCl₃ and PCl₅ ?

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Solution

Electron Pair Geometry = EPG; Molecular Shape = MS

H₂O ⇒ AX₂E₂ ⇒ EPG = tetrahedral, MS = bent

SiO₂ ⇒ AX₂ ⇒ EPG = linear, MS = linear

AlCl₃ ⇒ AX₃ ⇒ EPG = trigonal planar, MS = trigonal planar

PCl₅ ⇒ AX₅ ⇒ EPG = trigonal bipyramidal, MS = trigonal bipyramidal