Ch.8 - Covalent Compounds: Bonding Theories and Molecular Structure

McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook

McMurry 8th Edition

Ch.8 - Covalent Compounds: Bonding Theories and Molecular Structure

Problem 38

Chapter 8, Problem 38

What geometric arrangement of charge clouds do you expect for atoms that have the following number of charge clouds? (a) 3 (b) 5 (c) 2 (d) 6

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Identify the number of charge clouds around the central atom. Charge clouds can include lone pairs and bonds (single, double, or triple).

Use the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory to predict the molecular geometry based on the number of charge clouds. This theory states that electron pairs around a central atom will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion.

For 3 charge clouds, the electron pairs will arrange themselves in a trigonal planar shape to minimize repulsion.

For 5 charge clouds, the electron pairs will arrange themselves in a trigonal bipyramidal shape.

For 2 charge clouds, the electron pairs will arrange themselves in a linear shape, and for 6 charge clouds, they will arrange themselves in an octahedral shape.

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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 individual molecules based on the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms. According to this theory, electron pairs, whether bonding or non-bonding, repel each other and will arrange themselves to minimize this repulsion, leading to specific geometric shapes.

Electron Clouds

In chemistry, 'charge clouds' refer to regions around an atom where electrons are likely to be found. These clouds can be formed by lone pairs of electrons or bonds between atoms. The arrangement of these clouds influences the molecular geometry, as they occupy space and affect the angles between bonds.

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry describes the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. It is determined by the number of charge clouds around the central atom, which dictates the shape of the molecule, such as trigonal planar for three charge clouds, trigonal bipyramidal for five, linear for two, and octahedral for six.

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