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Chapter 9: Problem 13

(a) An \(\mathrm{AB}_{2}\), molecule is linear. How many nonbonding electron pairs are around the A atom from this information? (b) How many nonbonding electrons surround the Xe in $\mathrm{XeF}_{2} ?(\mathbf{c})\( Is \)\mathrm{XeF}_{2}$ linear?

Short Answer

Expert verified
(a) In a linear AB2 molecule, there are no nonbonding electron pairs around the A atom. (b) There are six nonbonding electrons surrounding the Xe atom in XeF2. (c) Yes, XeF2 is a linear molecule.

Step by step solution

01

(a) Determining nonbonding electron pairs around the A atom in a linear AB2 molecule

According to VSEPR theory, the molecular geometry depends on the number of bonding and nonbonding electron pairs around the central atom. For a linear geometry, there must be two bonding pairs and no lone pairs around the central atom, or two bonding pairs and three lone pairs around the central atom. Since the molecule is linear, there are no nonbonding electron pairs around the A atom.
02

(b) Finding the number of nonbonding electrons surrounding Xe in XeF2

Xenon (Xe) is a noble gas and has 8 electrons in its valence shell. In XeF2, two of Xe's valence electrons will be used for bonding with the fluorine atoms, and the other six valence electrons will remain as nonbonding electrons. Therefore, there are six nonbonding electrons surrounding the Xe atom in XeF2.
03

(c) Checking if XeF2 is a linear molecule

Using the VSEPR theory, we can determine the molecular geometry of XeF2. The Xe atom has 2 bonding pairs (Xe-F) and 3 lone pairs (6 nonbonding electrons). In VSEPR notation, this is AX2E3, where A represents the central atom (Xe), X represents atoms bonded to the central atom (fluorine), and E represents lone pair electrons on the central atom (nonbonding electrons). The AX2E3 molecular shape minimizes electron pair repulsion and results in a linear molecular geometry. Consequently, XeF2 is a linear molecule.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Give the electron-domain and molecular geometries for the following molecules and ions: (a) \(\mathrm{BeF}_{2}\), (b) \(\mathrm{AsCl}_{5}\), (c) \(\mathrm{NO}_{2}^{-}\), (e) \(\mathrm{SF}_{4},(\mathbf{f}) \mathrm{BrF}_{s-}\) (d) \(\mathrm{CS}_{2}\)

An \(\mathrm{AB}_{2}\) molecule is described as having a tetrahedral geometry. (a) How many nonbonding domains are on atom A? (b) Based on the information given, which of the following is the molecular geometry of the molecule: (i) linear, (ii) bent, (iii) trigonal planar, or (iv) tetrahedral?

Shown here are three pairs of hybrid orbitals, with each set at a characteristic angle. For each pair, determine the type of hybridization, if any, that could lead to hybrid orbitals at the specified angle.

Describe the bond angles to be found in each of the follow- ing molecular structures: (a) trigonal planar, \((\mathbf{b})\) tetrahedral, (c) octahedral, (d) linear.

Methyl isocyanate, \(\mathrm{CH}_{3} \mathrm{NCO},\) was made infamous in 1984 when an accidental leakage of this compound from a storage tank in Bhopal, India, resulted in the deaths of about 3800 people and severe and lasting injury to many thousands more. (a) Draw a Lewis structure for methyl isocyanate. (b) Draw a ball-and-stick model of the structure, including estimates of all the bond angles in the compound. (c) Predict all the bond distances in the molecule. (d) Do you predict that the molecule will have a dipole moment? Explain.
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