Question detail
What is the shape of a molecule with two bonding pairs and no lone pairs of electrons?
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. Linear
- B. Trigonal planar
- C. Tetrahedral
- D. Bent
Answer
Linear
Explanation
The shape is determined by the arrangement of bonding pairs. With two bonding pairs and no lone pairs, the molecule adopts a linear shape to minimize electron-pair repulsion.
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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