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Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory
Chapter 11, Problem 40b

Determine the molecular geometry and sketch each molecule or ion, using the bond conventions shown in “Representing Molecular Geometries on Paper” in Section 11.4. b. SCl4

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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 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 VSEPR, electron pairs will arrange themselves as far apart as possible to minimize repulsion, leading to specific molecular shapes.
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Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. It is determined by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom, which influences the overall shape, such as tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, or octahedral, among others.
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Bond Angles

Bond angles are the angles formed between adjacent bonds in a molecule, which are influenced by the molecular geometry. These angles are critical for understanding the spatial arrangement of atoms and can affect the physical and chemical properties of the substance. For example, in SCl4, the bond angles will differ due to the presence of lone pairs affecting the shape.
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