Can you match the molecular shapes…

Chemistry Questions

Can you match the molecular shapes to the correct Lewis structures? (Options are provided in the image below.)

Answer

(a) [tex]AlH_3[/tex] In this Lewis structure, the central atom has 3 bond pairs and 0 lone pairs, totaling 3 electron pairs. Therefore, the hybridization is [tex]sp^2[/tex], resulting in a trigonal planar geometry. (b) [tex]CH_2F_2[/tex] In this Lewis structure, there are 4 bond pairs and no lone pairs on the central atom, leading to a total of 4 electron pairs. Thus, the hybridization is [tex]sp^3[/tex] and the shape is tetrahedral. (c) [tex]PH_3[/tex] Here, the Lewis structure shows 3 bond pairs and 1 lone pair on the central atom, which sums up to 4 electron pairs. The hybridization remains [tex]sp^3[/tex], but with one lone pair, the resulting geometry is trigonal pyramidal, as opposed to tetrahedral. (d) [tex]O_3[/tex] In this structure, the central atom has 2 bond pairs and 1 lone pair, amounting to 3 electron pairs. The hybridization is [tex]sp^2[/tex], and with one position occupied by a lone pair, the geometry is bent rather than linear.

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