Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct Lewis dot structure for OF2 (oxygen difluoride)?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
Multiple Choice
After drawing the Lewis structure of OCl2, what is the ideal bond angle around the central oxygen atom?
A
109.5°
B
120°
C
180°
D
90°
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom in the molecule OCl\_2, which is oxygen (O).
Draw the Lewis structure of OCl\_2: oxygen is bonded to two chlorine atoms and has two lone pairs of electrons.
Determine the electron domain geometry around the central oxygen atom by counting the regions of electron density (bonding pairs + lone pairs). Here, there are 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs, totaling 4 electron domains.
Use the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory to predict the molecular shape and ideal bond angle. Four electron domains correspond to a tetrahedral electron geometry, which has an ideal bond angle of 109.5°.
Note that lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs, but the ideal bond angle around the central oxygen atom in this tetrahedral arrangement is approximately 109.5°.
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