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Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory
Chapter 11, Problem 38

Which species has the smaller bond angle, ClO4- or ClO3- ? Explain.

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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 molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs around a central atom. According to this theory, electron pairs, whether bonding or non-bonding, will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, which directly influences bond angles.
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Resonance Structures

Resonance structures are different ways of drawing the same molecule that show the delocalization of electrons. In the case of ClO3- and ClO4-, resonance can affect the distribution of electron density and the overall geometry, which in turn influences the bond angles between the chlorine and oxygen atoms.
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Hybridization

Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals that can accommodate bonding. The hybridization state of the central atom, chlorine in this case, determines the geometry and bond angles of the molecule. ClO4- is typically sp3 hybridized, while ClO3- can exhibit sp2 hybridization, leading to different bond angles.
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