Which molecule exhibits a trigonal bipyramidal geometry?

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Q: Which molecule exhibits a trigonal bipyramidal geometry?

Solution: PCl5 has a trigonal bipyramidal geometry due to the sp3d hybridization of phosphorus, accommodating five bonding pairs.

Steps: 5

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.