Textbook Question
The figure that follows contains ball-and-stick drawings of three possible shapes of an AF4 molecule. (a) For each shape, give the electron-domain geometry on which the molecular geometry is based. i.
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Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970
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Table of contents
- Ch.1 - Introduction: Matter, Energy, and Measurement111
- Ch.2 - Atoms, Molecules, and Ions166
- Ch.3 - Chemical Reactions and Reaction Stoichiometry138
- Ch.4 - Reactions in Aqueous Solution127
- Ch.5 - Thermochemistry104
- Ch.6 - Electronic Structure of Atoms109
- Ch.7 - Periodic Properties of the Elements107
- Ch.8 - Basic Concepts of Chemical Bonding102
- Ch.9 - Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories120
- Ch.10 - Gases122
- Ch.11 - Liquids and Intermolecular Forces79
- Ch.12 - Solids and Modern Materials102
- Ch.13 - Properties of Solutions99
- Ch.14 - Chemical Kinetics153
- Ch.15 - Chemical Equilibrium83
- Ch.16 - Acid-Base Equilibria109
- Ch.17 - Additional Aspects of Aqueous Equilibria117
- Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment60
- Ch.19 - Chemical Thermodynamics109
- Ch.20 - Electrochemistry113
- Ch.21 - Nuclear Chemistry79
- Ch.22 - Chemistry of the Nonmetals52
- Ch.23 - Transition Metals and Coordination Chemistry57
- Ch.24 - The Chemistry of Life: Organic and Biological Chemistry7
Brown15th EditionChemistry: The Central ScienceISBN: 9780137542970Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 9, Problem 25c
Give the electron-domain and molecular geometries for the following molecules and ions: c. SF4
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom in the molecule. For SF₄, the central atom is sulfur (S).
Determine the total number of valence electrons in the molecule. Sulfur has 6 valence electrons, and each fluorine has 7 valence electrons. Calculate the total: 6 + (4 * 7).
Use the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory to determine the electron-domain geometry. Count the number of electron domains (bonding and non-bonding) around the central atom. SF₄ has 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair.
Based on the number of electron domains, determine the electron-domain geometry. With 5 electron domains, the electron-domain geometry is trigonal bipyramidal.
Determine the molecular geometry by considering the positions of the atoms only (ignoring lone pairs). With 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair, the molecular geometry of SF₄ is seesaw.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Electron-Domain Geometry
Electron-domain geometry refers to the spatial arrangement of all electron domains (bonding and lone pairs) around a central atom. It helps predict the overall shape of the molecule based on the number of regions of electron density. For SF4, the central sulfur atom has five electron domains, leading to a specific geometry.
Molecular Geometry
Molecular geometry describes the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms in a molecule, considering only the positions of the nuclei. It is influenced by the electron-domain geometry but focuses on the actual atoms rather than electron pairs. In the case of SF4, the molecular geometry is determined by the positions of the sulfur and fluorine atoms.
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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. According to VSEPR, electron pairs will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, leading to specific shapes. For SF4, VSEPR helps explain why the molecule adopts a see-saw shape due to the presence of one lone pair.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
In which of the following molecules can you confidently predict the bond angles about the central atom, and for which would you be a bit uncertain? Explain in each case. (a) H2S, (b) BCl3, (c) CH3I, (d) CBr4, (e) TeBr4.
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Textbook Question
The figure that follows contains ball-and-stick drawings of three possible shapes of an AF4 molecule. (a) For each shape, give the electron-domain geometry on which the molecular geometry is based. ii.
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Textbook Question
The figure that follows contains ball-and-stick drawings of three possible shapes of an AF4 molecule. (c) Which of the following elements will lead to an AF4 molecule with the shape in (iii): Be, C, S, Se, Si, Xe? i.
ii.
iii.
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