Chapter 10, Problem 10.30P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The name of all the molecular shapes that have a tetrahedral electron-group arrangement is to be determined.

Concept introduction:

VSEPR theory is based on the repulsions between the electrons pair in the valence shell. According to VSEPR theory, the shape of a molecule depends on the position of the electron pairs to minimize the repulsion, and maximize the stability.

According to VSEPR theory, the table for molecular geometries when the central atom has no lone pair is as follows:

$\begin{array}{cc}\text{Electron}\text{groups}& \text{Geometry}\\ \text{2}& \text{Linear}\\ \text{3}& \text{Trigonal}\text{Planar}\\ \text{4}& \text{Tetrahedral}\\ \text{5}& \text{Trigonal}\text{bipyramidal}\\ \text{6}& \text{Octahedral}\end{array}$