What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pai
Practice Questions
Q1
What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs on the central atom?
Linear
Trigonal Planar
Tetrahedral
Bent
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs on the central atom?
Step 1: Identify the central atom of the molecule.
Step 2: Count the number of bonding pairs (shared electron pairs) around the central atom. In this case, there are 2 bonding pairs.
Step 3: Count the number of lone pairs (unshared electron pairs) on the central atom. Here, there are 2 lone pairs.
Step 4: Determine the total number of electron pairs (bonding + lone). For this molecule, it is 2 bonding pairs + 2 lone pairs = 4 total pairs.
Step 5: Use the VSEPR theory (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) to predict the shape. Lone pairs repel more than bonding pairs.
Step 6: Since there are 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs, the shape will be bent (or angular) because the lone pairs push the bonding pairs closer together.
