Textbook Question
Consider the following XF4 ions: PF4-, BrF4-, ClF4+, and AlF4-. (b) For which of the ions will the electron-domain and molecular geometries be the same?
Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories
Chapter 9, Problem 88c
Consider the molecule PF4Cl. (c) Predict the molecular geometry of PF4Cl. How did your answer for part (b) influence your answer here in part (c)?
Verified step by step guidance1
Step 1: Determine the central atom in the molecule. In PF4Cl, the central atom is P (Phosphorus).
Step 2: Draw the Lewis structure of the molecule. The Lewis structure is a diagram that shows the bonding between atoms of a molecule and the lone pairs of electrons that may exist in the molecule. In PF4Cl, P is surrounded by 5 other atoms (4 F atoms and 1 Cl atom), and it does not have any lone pair of electrons.
Step 3: Determine the electron geometry of the molecule. The electron geometry is determined by the number of electron groups (bonding and non-bonding) around the central atom. In PF4Cl, there are 5 electron groups around the central atom P, so the electron geometry is trigonal bipyramidal.
Step 4: Determine the molecular geometry of the molecule. The molecular geometry is determined by the positions of the atoms in space. In PF4Cl, since there are no lone pairs on the central atom and there are 5 atoms surrounding it, the molecular geometry is also trigonal bipyramidal.
Step 5: Reflect on how the answer for part (b) influenced the answer for part (c). In part (b), we determined the electron geometry, which is the same as the molecular geometry when there are no lone pairs on the central atom. Therefore, the answer for part (b) directly determined the answer for part (c).
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
VSEPR Theory
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory is a model used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs surrounding a central atom. According to VSEPR, electron pairs, whether bonding or lone pairs, will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, leading to specific molecular shapes. For PF4Cl, the presence of five regions of electron density (four P-F bonds and one P-Cl bond) will determine its geometry.
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Molecular Shapes and VSEPR
Molecular Geometry
Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. It is influenced by the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons around the central atom. In the case of PF4Cl, the molecular geometry can be predicted as trigonal bipyramidal due to the five bonding pairs, which affects the angles and overall shape of the molecule.
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Influence of Hybridization
Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals that can accommodate bonding. In PF4Cl, the phosphorus atom undergoes sp3d hybridization to form five equivalent orbitals for bonding with four fluorine atoms and one chlorine atom. Understanding hybridization helps in predicting the molecular geometry and bond angles, as it directly relates to the arrangement of electron pairs around the central atom.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Consider the following XF4 ions: PF4-, BrF4-, ClF4+, and AlF4-. (c) Which of the ions will have an octahedral electron-domain geometry?
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Textbook Question
Consider the molecule PF4Cl. (a) Draw a Lewis structure for the molecule, and predict its electron-domain geometry.
Textbook Question
Consider the molecule PF4Cl. (d) Would you expect the molecule to distort from its ideal electron-domain geometry? If so, how would it distort?
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Textbook Question
Although I3- is a known ion, F3- is not. (d) Yet another classmate says F3- does not exist because F is too small to make bonds to more than one atom. Is this classmate possibly correct?
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Textbook Question
Fill in the blank spaces in the following chart. If the molecule column is blank, find an example that fulfills the conditions of the rest of the row. Molecule Electron-Domain Hybridization Dipole Geometry of Central Atom Moment? Yes or No CO2 sp3 Yes sp3 No Trigonal planar No SF4 Octahedral No sp2 Yes Trigonal bipyramidal No XeF2
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