Skip to main content
Ch.8 - Covalent Compounds: Bonding Theories and Molecular Structure

Chapter 8, Problem 40

How many charge clouds are there around the central atom in molecules that have the following geometry? (a) Tetrahedral (b) Octahedral (c) Bent (d) Linear (e) Square pyramidal (f) Trigonal pyramidal

Verified Solution
Video duration:
2m
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
799
views
Was this helpful?

Video transcript

Hey everyone, we're asked to determine the number of electron groups around each central atom for each of the following geometry. To answer this question, we need to recall our vesper theory and we need to also recall our A. X. E notation with a being our central atom, X. Being our terminal atoms and E. Being our lone pairs. Now, starting with our first one, we have tribunal pyramidal as we've learned. This is going to be denoted by a X three E one. So it has three terminal atoms and one lone pair. And when we count the number of electron groups, this is going to come up to four electron groups. Now let's go ahead and look at our 2nd 1 which is seesaw as we've learned. This is denoted by AX four E 1. Again, when we count the electron groups, we're going to add four terminal atoms plus one lone pair. So that comes up to five electron groups. Moving on to our 3rd 1, we have square planner. This is denoted by AX five E 1. So adding those five terminal atoms and that one lone pair, we get six electron groups. Now let's go ahead and look at our 4th 1. Our fourth one is T shaped. This is denoted by A X three E two. So we have five electron groups Which is coming from our three terminal atoms And two lone pairs. Now looking at our 5th 1, we have linear as we've learned, this is either going to be a X two or a X two E three. So it's either going to have two or 5 electron groups. And lastly looking at our sixth one, we have tribunal planer as we've learned. This is denoted by A X three, which means that we have three electron groups. So these are going to be our final answers for this question. Now, I hope that made sense and let us know if you have any questions.