Textbook Question
(b) If you react BF3 to make the ion BF32-, is this ion planar?
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory
Molecular Geometry
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What are the electron geometry, molecular geometry, and hybridization for NH3?
A
eg = tetrahedral, mg = trigonal planar, sp2
B
eg = tetrahedral, mg = trigonal pyramidal, sp3
C
eg = trigonal pyramidal, mg = trigonal pyramidal, sp
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom in NH3, which is nitrogen (N).
Count the total number of valence electrons. Nitrogen has 5 valence electrons, and each hydrogen has 1 valence electron, giving a total of 8 valence electrons.
Determine the electron geometry by considering the regions of electron density around the central atom. NH3 has 3 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair, resulting in 4 regions of electron density, which corresponds to a tetrahedral electron geometry.
Determine the molecular geometry by considering the arrangement of atoms. With 3 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair, the molecular geometry is trigonal pyramidal.
Determine the hybridization of the central atom. With 4 regions of electron density, the hybridization is sp3.
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