Chapter 4, Problem 2CGP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The Lewis formula or structure of the given molecules or ion have to determine.

Concept introduction:

The covalent bonds are directional in nature imparting a characteristic shape to each molecule. The ultimate shape of a molecule is determined by the nature of hybrid orbitals involved in the bond formation and the interaction between the bond pairs and lone pairs of the electrons. The hybridization scheme first determines the approximate spatial distribution of the orbitals of the central atom (say A) in any moleculeWhen there are no lone pairs of electrons on A the number of hybrid orbitals produced is equal to the number of A-X bonds (=n); each hybrid orbital forms an A-X bond. The geometry conforms so that expected from hybridization as the bonds are then oriented as far as possible.
When the central atom A contains one or more lone pairs, these occupy some of the hybrid orbitals. The number of A-X bonds formed is consequently less than the number of the hybrid orbitals. The relative positions of the lone pairs and the A-X bonds are then determined by the mutual interactions between among the various bonding and nonbonding electron pairs; such interaction results in a distortion of the actual geometry expected on the basis of hybridisation alone.