(a) An AB2 molecule is linear. How many nonbonding electron pairs are around the A atom from this information?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

VSEPR Theory

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory is used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs around a central atom. In the case of an AB2 molecule, the arrangement of bonding and nonbonding electron pairs determines the molecular shape, which in this instance is linear.

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. For an AB2 molecule that is linear, the two B atoms are positioned 180 degrees apart, indicating that the central atom A has no lone pairs of electrons affecting the geometry, which is crucial for determining the number of nonbonding electron pairs.

Lone Pairs

Lone pairs are pairs of valence electrons that are not involved in bonding and are localized on a single atom. In a linear AB2 molecule, the absence of lone pairs on the central atom A allows for the linear shape, indicating that there are zero nonbonding electron pairs around A.

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Lone Pair Positions

Related Practice

The drawing below shows the overlap of two hybrid orbitals to form a bond in a hydrocarbon. (b) Which of the following could be the identity of the hydrocarbon: (i) CH4, (ii) C2H6, (iii) C2H4, or (iv) C2H2?

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Textbook Question

The molecule shown below is called furan. It is represented in typical shorthand way for organic molecules, with hydrogen atoms not shown, and each of the 4 vertices representing a carbon atom.

(e) The C¬C¬C bond angles in furan are much smaller than those in benzene. The likely reason is which of the following: (i) The hybridization of the carbon atoms in furan is different from that in benzene, (ii) Furan does not have another resonance structure equivalent to the one above, or (iii) The atoms in a five-membered ring are forced to adopt smaller angles than in a six-membered ring.

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Textbook Question

The following is part of a molecular orbital energy-level diagram for MOs constructed from 1s atomic orbitals.

(a) What labels do we use for the two MOs shown?

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Textbook Question

(b) How many nonbonding electrons surround the Xe in XeF2?

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Textbook Question