Which species has the smaller bond angle, ClO 4 - or ClO 3 - ? Explain.

Hi everyone here we have a question asking us between phosphate and phosphate fight, which compound is expected to have a smaller bond angle? So first we need to draw out our Lewis structure. So for phosphate we have phosphorus with one lone pair Single bonded to three oxygen's Each with three lone pairs and negative charge. Now for foss fight we have phosphorus in the middle, double bonded to oxygen, Single bonded to three other oxygen's Each with three long pairs and a negative charge lone pairs on the central atom push the bonds away from it, making the bonds closer together and have smaller angles. Both phosphorus central atoms have four electron domains. But due to the lone pairs, foss fight will have the smaller bond angle and that is our final answer. Thank you for watching. Bye.

Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory

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Tro 6th Edition

Ch.11 - Chemical Bonding II: Molecular Shapes, VSEPR & MO Theory

Problem 38

Chapter 11, Problem 38

Which species has the smaller bond angle, ClO₄^- or ClO₃^- ? Explain.

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Identify the central atom in each species: ClO4^- and ClO3^- both have chlorine (Cl) as the central atom.

Determine the number of electron domains around the central atom: ClO4^- has four oxygen atoms bonded to Cl, while ClO3^- has three oxygen atoms and one lone pair on Cl.

Use VSEPR theory to predict the molecular geometry: ClO4^- has a tetrahedral geometry, while ClO3^- has a trigonal pyramidal geometry due to the lone pair.

Recall that lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs, causing bond angles to decrease in the presence of lone pairs.

Conclude that ClO3^- has a smaller bond angle than ClO4^- because the lone pair on ClO3^- causes greater repulsion, reducing the bond angle compared to the tetrahedral angle in ClO4^- which has no lone pairs.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

VSEPR Theory

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory is a model used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs around a central atom. According to this theory, electron pairs, whether bonding or non-bonding, will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, which directly influences bond angles.

Resonance Structures

Resonance structures are different ways of drawing the same molecule that show the delocalization of electrons. In the case of ClO3- and ClO4-, resonance can affect the distribution of electron density and the overall geometry, which in turn influences the bond angles between the chlorine and oxygen atoms.

Hybridization

Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals that can accommodate bonding. The hybridization state of the central atom, chlorine in this case, determines the geometry and bond angles of the molecule. ClO4- is typically sp3 hybridized, while ClO3- can exhibit sp2 hybridization, leading to different bond angles.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Determine the electron geometry, molecular geometry, and idealized bond angles for each molecule. In which cases do you expect deviations from the idealized bond angle?

a. CI4

b. NCl3

c. OF2

d. H2S

Textbook Question

Determine the electron geometry, molecular geometry, and idealized bond angles for each molecule. In which cases do you expect deviations from the idealized bond angle?

a. CS2

b. SCl2

c. CHF3

d. PF3

Textbook Question

Which species has the smaller bond angle, H₃O⁺ or H₂O? Explain.

Textbook Question

Determine the molecular geometry and sketch each molecule or ion using the bond conventions shown in “Representing Molecular Geometries on Paper” in Section 11.4. c. PCl5

Textbook Question

Determine the molecular geometry and sketch each molecule or ion using the bond conventions shown in “Representing Molecular Geometries on Paper” in Section 11.4. d. BrF5

Textbook Question

Determine the molecular geometry and sketch each molecule or ion, using the bond conventions shown in “Representing Molecular Geometries on Paper” in Section 11.4. b. SCl4

Which species has the smaller bond angle, ClO4- or ClO3- ? Explain.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

VSEPR Theory

Resonance Structures

Hybridization

Which species has the smaller bond angle, ClO₄^- or ClO₃^- ? Explain.