Multiple Choice
Which of the following best describes the molecular geometry of CH2O (formaldehyde)?
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12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory
Molecular Geometry
Multiple Choice
What is the molecular geometry of SF_6?
A
Octahedral
B
Tetrahedral
C
Square planar
D
Trigonal bipyramidal
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom and the number of valence electrons it has. For SF_6, sulfur (S) is the central atom, and it has 6 valence electrons.
Determine the number of bonding pairs around the central atom. SF_6 has six fluorine atoms bonded to sulfur, so there are 6 bonding pairs.
Count the number of lone pairs on the central atom. In SF_6, sulfur has no lone pairs because all its valence electrons are involved in bonding with fluorine atoms.
Use the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory to predict the molecular geometry. With 6 bonding pairs and 0 lone pairs, the electron pairs arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, resulting in an octahedral shape.
Confirm that the octahedral geometry corresponds to bond angles of 90° between adjacent bonds, which matches the expected geometry for SF_6.
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