Which of the following has a trigonal planar geometry?
Practice Questions
Q1
Which of the following has a trigonal planar geometry?
CH4
BF3
NH3
H2O
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which of the following has a trigonal planar geometry?
Correct Answer: BF3
Step 1: Understand what trigonal planar geometry means. It refers to a molecular shape where three atoms are arranged around a central atom, all in the same plane, forming a triangle.
Step 2: Identify the central atom in the molecule BF3, which is boron (B).
Step 3: Determine the number of bonds boron forms in BF3. Boron forms three bonds with three fluorine (F) atoms.
Step 4: Check the hybridization of boron in BF3. Boron undergoes sp2 hybridization, which means it mixes one s orbital and two p orbitals to form three equivalent sp2 hybrid orbitals.
Step 5: Recognize that sp2 hybridization leads to a trigonal planar arrangement of the three bonds, confirming that BF3 has a trigonal planar geometry.
