Which molecule exhibits a trigonal bipyramidal geometry?

Practice Questions

Q1
Which molecule exhibits a trigonal bipyramidal geometry?
  1. CH4
  2. PCl5
  3. NH3
  4. H2O

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

Which molecule exhibits a trigonal bipyramidal geometry?
  • Step 1: Understand what trigonal bipyramidal geometry means. It is a shape where there are five bonds around a central atom, with three bonds in a plane and two above and below this plane.
  • Step 2: Identify the central atom in the molecule PCl5, which is phosphorus (P).
  • Step 3: Determine how many chlorine (Cl) atoms are bonded to phosphorus in PCl5. There are five Cl atoms.
  • Step 4: Recognize that phosphorus uses sp3d hybridization to form five equivalent bonds with the five Cl atoms.
  • Step 5: Conclude that since PCl5 has five bonding pairs and uses sp3d hybridization, it exhibits a trigonal bipyramidal geometry.
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