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Chapter 6: Problem 21

Two molecules may both be correctly described as bent, even though one has a bond angle of approximately \(118^{\circ}\) and the other has a bond angle of approximately \(105^{\circ} .\) How is this possible?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Two molecules can both have bent molecular geometry with different bond angles, such as \(118^{\circ}\) and \(105^{\circ}\), due to factors like the presence of lone pairs, electron pair repulsion, and differences in electronegativity between atoms involved in the bonds. These factors influence the spatial arrangement of electron pairs, resulting in variations in bond angles while still maintaining a bent geometry.

Step by step solution

01

Defining bent molecular geometry

Bent molecular geometry is a term used to describe the shape formed by three atoms when the angle between the two covalent bonds of the central atom is less than \(180^{\circ}\). The bond angle in bent molecules can vary due to a number of factors, such as electron repulsion and the difference in the electronegativity of the atoms involved in the bonds.
02

Explain electron repulsion using VSEPR theory

The Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory is used to predict molecular geometry. According to VSEPR theory, electron pairs surrounding an atom repel each other, and the molecule adopts a geometry that minimizes this repulsion. The repulsion between electron domains (bonding or lone electron pairs) helps determine the bond angle between atoms.
03

Discuss the influence of lone pair repulsion

The presence of lone pairs of electrons around the central atom significantly affects the bond angle in a molecule. Lone pairs occupy more space around the central atom compared to bonding pairs, and they exert a greater repulsive force on the bonding pairs. As a result, the angle between the atoms connected to the central atom decreases.
04

Explain how different atoms contribute to bond angles

The difference in electronegativity of the bonding atoms also plays a role in determining bond angle. For example, a bond between a very electronegative atom and a less electronegative atom will have a different bond angle compared to a bond between two equally electronegative atoms. This variation is due to the fact that the more electronegative atom will attract the shared electrons more closely, causing a change in the spatial arrangement of the electron pairs.
05

Conclude with the explanation of different bent bond angles

It is possible for two molecules to both be correctly described as bent, even though one has a bond angle of approximately \(118^{\circ}\) and the other has a bond angle of approximately \(105^{\circ}\) due to the factors mentioned above. The presence of lone pairs, variation in electron pair repulsion, and the difference in electronegativity of the atoms involved in the bonds all contribute to the variation in bond angles between the two bent molecules.

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