Chapter U2.38, Problem 5E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The shape or shapes for the molecules with 2, 3, 4 and 5 atoms respectively must be predicted and explained with the help of Lewis dot structure.

Concept introduction:

The shape of a molecule depends on the total number of valence electrons present in the molecule.

Explanation of Solution

The possible structures for molecules with different number of atoms are as follows:

  

All the possible shapes are shown above for molecules containing 2, 3, 4 and 5 atoms.

Here, A is considered as central atom and B atoms are surrounding atoms.

From the above structure, this can be seen that molecules with two atoms are linear, molecules with three atoms are linear or angular, molecules with four atoms are trigonal pyramidal or trigonal planar and molecules with 5 atoms are tetrahedral, square planar or distorted tetrahedral.