According to VSEPR theory, what is the shape of the molecule with the formula AX

According to VSEPR theory, what is the shape of the molecule with the formula AX2E2?

According to VSEPR theory, what is the shape of the molecule with the formula AX2E2?

Correct Answer: Bent shape

Step 1: Identify the formula AX2E2. Here, 'A' is the central atom, 'X' represents bonding pairs, and 'E' represents lone pairs.
Step 2: Count the number of bonding pairs (X) and lone pairs (E). In AX2E2, there are 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs.
Step 3: According to VSEPR theory, the arrangement of electron pairs around the central atom determines the shape of the molecule.
Step 4: With 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs, the electron pair geometry is tetrahedral.
Step 5: However, the shape of the molecule is determined by the positions of the atoms only, not the lone pairs. The lone pairs push the bonding pairs closer together.
Step 6: Therefore, the resulting molecular shape is bent (or angular) due to the repulsion between the lone pairs.

VSEPR Theory – VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory is used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs.
Molecular Geometry – The shape of a molecule is determined by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom.
AXE Notation – AX2E2 notation indicates a central atom (A) bonded to two atoms (X) and having two lone pairs (E).