Question detail
Using electron-pair repulsion theory, predict the bond angle in a methane molecule (CH4) and explain your reasoning.
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Bonding
Question
Using electron-pair repulsion theory, predict the bond angle in a methane molecule (CH4) and explain your reasoning.
Answer
The bond angle in a methane molecule is approximately 109.5 degrees. This is because there are four bonding pairs of electrons around the carbon atom, which repel each other equally, leading to a tetrahedral shape.
Explanation
This answer is strong as it correctly identifies the bond angle in methane and explains the reasoning based on electron-pair repulsion theory. The question assesses the understanding of how electron arrangements influence molecular geometry.
Common mistake
Predicting Molecular Shapes
Students often confuse the number of electron pairs with the number of bonds when predicting molecular shapes, leading to incorrect shapes being assigned.
To accurately predict molecular shapes using electron-pair repulsion, remember to count both bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons. For example, in a molecule like water (H₂O), there are two bonding pairs and two lone pairs. This results in a bent shape due to the repulsion between the lone pairs, which is stronger than that between bonding pairs.
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