Determine the molecular geometry about each interior atom and sketch each molecule. c. N₂H₄ (skeletal structure H₂NNH₂)

Key Concepts

VSEPR Theory

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory is a model used to predict the geometry of individual molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs in the valence shell of the central atom. According to this theory, electron pairs will arrange themselves as far apart as possible to minimize repulsion, leading to specific molecular shapes.

Hybridization

Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals that can accommodate bonding. In the case of N2H4, the nitrogen atoms undergo sp3 hybridization, which allows for the formation of four equivalent bonds, resulting in a tetrahedral arrangement around each nitrogen atom.

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. For N2H4, the molecular geometry around each nitrogen atom is approximately tetrahedral due to the presence of two bonded hydrogen atoms and one lone pair, influencing the overall shape of the molecule.