Question detail
What is the shape of a molecule with four bonding pairs and no lone pairs around the central atom?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Bonding
Question
- A. Tetrahedral
- B. Trigonal planar
- C. Linear
- D. Bent
Answer
Tetrahedral
Explanation
The evidence shows that a molecule with four bonding pairs adopts a tetrahedral shape due to the repulsion between the bonding pairs being minimized. This arrangement implies that the bond angles will be approximately 109.5 degrees, leading to a stable molecular structure. Therefore, the conclusion is that the correct shape for such a molecular arrangement is tetrahedral.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Bond Angles
Students often confuse the bond angles in simple molecular shapes, thinking they are all the same regardless of the presence of lone pairs.
To fix this, students should remember that lone pairs repel more than bonding pairs, which can alter the bond angles in a molecule. For example, in water (H₂O), the bond angle is approximately 104.5° due to the two lone pairs on the oxygen atom.
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