6.1- Shapes Of Molecules And Ions

Question 1

What determines the shape of a molecule?

Answer 1

• the electron pairs surrounding a central atom

• the electron pairs repel one another so that they are arranged as far as possible

• arrangement of electron pairs minimises repulsion and thus holds the bonded atoms in a definite shape

• different number of electron pairs results in different shapes

Question 2

What type of electron pair repel more?

Answer 2

• Lone pairs repel more than bonding pairs
• this means the greatest angles are between lone pairs of electrons and bond angles between bonding pairs are often reduced because they are pushes together by lone pair repulsion

Question 3

What does a solid line represent?

Answer 3

Bond in the plane of the paper

Question 4

What does a solid wedge represent?

Answer 4

Comes out of the plane of the paper

Question 5

What does a dotted wedge represent?

Answer 5

Goes into the plane of the paper

Question 6

What type of electron pair is the most repulsive?

Answer 6

Lone pair- lone pair

Question 7

What is the second most repulsive electron pair?

Answer 7

Bonded pair-lone pair

Question 8

What is the least repulsive electron pair?

Answer 8

Bonded pair-bonded pair