Molecular Structure and Polarity

Thus far, we have used two-dimensional Lewis structures to represent molecules. However, molecular structure is actually three-dimensional, and it is important to be able to describe molecular bonds in terms of their distances, angles, and relative arrangements in space ([link]). A bond angle is the angle between any two bonds that include a common atom, usually measured in degrees. A bond distance (or bond length) is the distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms along the straight line joining the nuclei. Bond distances are measured in Ångstroms (1 Å = 10^–10 m) or picometers (1 pm = 10^–12 m, 100 pm = 1 Å).

VSEPR Theory

Valence shell electron-pair repulsion theory (VSEPR theory) enables us to predict the molecular structure, including approximate bond angles around a central atom, of a molecule from an examination of the number of bonds and lone electron pairs in its Lewis structure. The VSEPR model assumes that electron pairs in the valence shell of a central atom will adopt an arrangement that minimizes repulsions between these electron pairs by maximizing the distance between them. The electrons in the valence shell of a central atom form either bonding pairs of electrons, located primarily between bonded atoms, or lone pairs. The electrostatic repulsion of these electrons is reduced when the various regions of high electron density assume positions as far from each other as possible.

VSEPR theory predicts the arrangement of electron pairs around each central atom and, usually, the correct arrangement of atoms in a molecule. We should understand, however, that the theory only considers electron-pair repulsions. Other interactions, such as nuclear-nuclear repulsions and nuclear-electron attractions, are also involved in the final arrangement that atoms adopt in a particular molecular structure.

As a simple example of VSEPR theory, let us predict the structure of a gaseous BeF₂ molecule. The Lewis structure of BeF₂ ([link]) shows only two electron pairs around the central beryllium atom. With two bonds and no lone pairs of electrons on the central atom, the bonds are as far apart as possible, and the electrostatic repulsion between these regions of high electron density is reduced to a minimum when they are on opposite sides of the central atom. The bond angle is 180° ([link]).

[link] illustrates this and other electron-pair geometries that minimize the repulsions among regions of high electron density (bonds and/or lone pairs). Two regions of electron density around a central atom in a molecule form a linear geometry; three regions form a trigonal planar geometry; four regions form a tetrahedral geometry; five regions form a trigonal bipyramidal geometry; and six regions form an octahedral geometry.

Electron-pair Geometry versus Molecular Structure

It is important to note that electron-pair geometry around a central atom is not the same thing as its molecular structure. The electron-pair geometries shown in [link] describe all regions where electrons are located, bonds as well as lone pairs. Molecular structure describes the location of the atoms, not the electrons.

We differentiate between these two situations by naming the geometry that includes all electron pairs the electron-pair geometry. The structure that includes only the placement of the atoms in the molecule is called the molecular structure. The electron-pair geometries will be the same as the molecular structures when there are no lone electron pairs around the central atom, but they will be different when there are lone pairs present on the central atom.

For example, the methane molecule, CH₄, which is the major component of natural gas, has four bonding pairs of electrons around the central carbon atom; the electron-pair geometry is tetrahedral, as is the molecular structure ([link]). On the other hand, the ammonia molecule, NH₃, also has four electron pairs associated with the nitrogen atom, and thus has a tetrahedral electron-pair geometry. One of these regions, however, is a lone pair, which is not included in the molecular structure, and this lone pair influences the shape of the molecule ([link]).

As seen in [link], small distortions from the ideal angles in [link] can result from differences in repulsion between various regions of electron density. VSEPR theory predicts these distortions by establishing an order of repulsions and an order of the amount of space occupied by different kinds of electron pairs. The order of electron-pair repulsions from greatest to least repulsion is:

This order of repulsions determines the amount of space occupied by different regions of electrons. A lone pair of electrons occupies a larger region of space than the electrons in a triple bond; in turn, electrons in a triple bond occupy more space than those in a double bond, and so on. The order of sizes from largest to smallest is:

Consider formaldehyde, H₂CO, which is used as a preservative for biological and anatomical specimens ([link]). This molecule has regions of high electron density that consist of two single bonds and one double bond. The basic geometry is trigonal planar with 120° bond angles, but we see that the double bond causes slightly larger angles (121°), and the angle between the single bonds is slightly smaller (118°).

In the ammonia molecule, the three hydrogen atoms attached to the central nitrogen are not arranged in a flat, trigonal planar molecular structure, but rather in a three-dimensional trigonal pyramid ([link]) with the nitrogen atom at the apex and the three hydrogen atoms forming the base. The ideal bond angles in a trigonal pyramid are based on the tetrahedral electron pair geometry. Again, there are slight deviations from the ideal because lone pairs occupy larger regions of space than do bonding electrons. The H–N–H bond angles in NH₃ are slightly smaller than the 109.5° angle in a regular tetrahedron ([link]) because the lone pair-bonding pair repulsion is greater than the bonding pair-bonding pair repulsion ([link]). [link] illustrates the ideal molecular structures, which are predicted based on the electron-pair geometries for various combinations of lone pairs and bonding pairs.

According to VSEPR theory, the terminal atom locations (Xs in [link]) are equivalent within the linear, trigonal planar, and tetrahedral electron-pair geometries (the first three rows of the table). It does not matter which X is replaced with a lone pair because the molecules can be rotated to convert positions. For trigonal bipyramidal electron-pair geometries, however, there are two distinct X positions, as shown in [link]: an axial position (if we hold a model of a trigonal bipyramid by the two axial positions, we have an axis around which we can rotate the model) and an equatorial position (three positions form an equator around the middle of the molecule). As shown in [link], the axial position is surrounded by bond angles of 90°, whereas the equatorial position has more space available because of the 120° bond angles. In a trigonal bipyramidal electron-pair geometry, lone pairs always occupy equatorial positions because these more spacious positions can more easily accommodate the larger lone pairs.

Theoretically, we can come up with three possible arrangements for the three bonds and two lone pairs for the ClF₃ molecule ([link]). The stable structure is the one that puts the lone pairs in equatorial locations, giving a T-shaped molecular structure.

When a central atom has two lone electron pairs and four bonding regions, we have an octahedral electron-pair geometry. The two lone pairs are on opposite sides of the octahedron (180° apart), giving a square planar molecular structure that minimizes lone pair-lone pair repulsions ([link]).

Predicting Electron Pair Geometry and Molecular Structure

The following procedure uses VSEPR theory to determine the electron pair geometries and the molecular structures:

The following examples illustrate the use of VSEPR theory to predict the molecular structure of molecules or ions that have no lone pairs of electrons. In this case, the molecular structure is identical to the electron pair geometry.

Predicting Electron-pair Geometry and Molecular Structure: CO₂ and BCl₃ Predict the electron-pair geometry and molecular structure for each of the following:

(a) carbon dioxide, CO₂, a molecule produced by the combustion of fossil fuels

(b) boron trichloride, BCl₃, an important industrial chemical

Solution (a) We write the Lewis structure of CO₂ as:

A Lewis structure shows a carbon atom double bonded on both the left and right sides to oxygen atoms that each have two lone pairs of electrons. This shows us two regions of high electron density around the carbon atom—each double bond counts as one region, and there are no lone pairs on the carbon atom. Using VSEPR theory, we predict that the two regions of electron density arrange themselves on opposite sides of the central atom with a bond angle of 180°. The electron-pair geometry and molecular structure are identical, and CO₂ molecules are linear.

(b) We write the Lewis structure of BCl₃ as:

A Lewis structure depicts a boron atom that is single bonded to three chlorine atoms, each of which has three lone pairs of electrons. Thus we see that BCl₃ contains three bonds, and there are no lone pairs of electrons on boron. The arrangement of three regions of high electron density gives a trigonal planar electron-pair geometry. The B–Cl bonds lie in a plane with 120° angles between them. BCl₃ also has a trigonal planar molecular structure ([link]).

A Lewis structure depicts a boron atom that is single bonded to three chlorine atoms, each of which is oriented in the same flat plane. This figure uses dashes and wedges to give it a three-dimensional appearance.

The electron-pair geometry and molecular structure of BCl₃ are both trigonal planar. Note that the VSEPR geometry indicates the correct bond angles (120°), unlike the Lewis structure shown above.

Check Your Learning Carbonate, ${CO}_{3}^{2−},$

is a common polyatomic ion found in various materials from eggshells to antacids. What are the electron-pair geometry and molecular structure of this polyatomic ion?

Answer:

The electron-pair geometry is trigonal planar and the molecular structure is trigonal planar. Due to resonance, all three C–O bonds are identical. Whether they are single, double, or an average of the two, each bond counts as one region of electron density.

Predicting Electron-pair Geometry and Molecular Structure: Ammonium Two of the top 50 chemicals produced in the United States, ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate, both used as fertilizers, contain the ammonium ion. Predict the electron-pair geometry and molecular structure of the ${NH}_{4}^{+}$

cation.

Solution We write the Lewis structure of ${NH}_{4}^{+}$

as:

A Lewis structure depicts a nitrogen atom that is single bonded to four hydrogen atoms. The structure is surrounded by brackets and has a superscripted positive sign. We can see that ${NH}_{4}^{+}$

contains four bonds from the nitrogen atom to hydrogen atoms and no lone pairs. We expect the four regions of high electron density to arrange themselves so that they point to the corners of a tetrahedron with the central nitrogen atom in the middle ([link]). Therefore, the electron pair geometry of ${NH}_{4}^{+}$

is tetrahedral, and the molecular structure is also tetrahedral ([link]).

A Lewis structure depicts a nitrogen atom that is single bonded to four hydrogen atoms. The structure is surrounded by brackets and has a superscripted positive sign. This figure uses dashes and wedges to displays its three planes in a tetrahedral shape.

Check Your Learning Identify a molecule with trigonal bipyramidal molecular structure.

Answer:

Any molecule with five electron pairs around the central atoms including no lone pairs will be trigonal bipyramidal. PF₅ is a common example.

The next several examples illustrate the effect of lone pairs of electrons on molecular structure.

Predicting Electron-pair Geometry and Molecular Structure: Lone Pairs on the Central Atom Predict the electron-pair geometry and molecular structure of a water molecule.

Solution The Lewis structure of H₂O indicates that there are four regions of high electron density around the oxygen atom: two lone pairs and two chemical bonds:

A Lewis structure depicts an oxygen atom with two lone pairs of electrons single bonded to two hydrogen atoms. We predict that these four regions are arranged in a tetrahedral fashion ([link]), as indicated in [link]. Thus, the electron-pair geometry is tetrahedral and the molecular structure is bent with an angle slightly less than 109.5°. In fact, the bond angle is 104.5°.

Two diagrams are shown and labeled, “a” and “b.” Diagram a shows an oxygen atom in the center of a four-sided pyramid shape. Diagram b shows the same image as diagram a, but this time there are hydrogen atoms located at two corners of the pyramid shape.

Check Your Learning The hydronium ion, H₃O⁺, forms when acids are dissolved in water. Predict the electron-pair geometry and molecular structure of this cation.

Answer:

electron pair geometry: tetrahedral; molecular structure: trigonal pyramidal

Predicting Electron-pair Geometry and Molecular Structure: SF₄ Sulfur tetrafluoride, SF₄, is extremely valuable for the preparation of fluorine-containing compounds used as herbicides (i.e., SF₄ is used as a fluorinating agent). Predict the electron-pair geometry and molecular structure of a SF₄ molecule.

Solution The Lewis structure of SF₄ indicates five regions of electron density around the sulfur atom: one lone pair and four bonding pairs:

A Lewis diagram depicts a sulfur atom with one lone pair of electrons single bonded to four fluorine atoms, each with three lone pairs of electrons. We expect these five regions to adopt a trigonal bipyramidal electron-pair geometry. To minimize lone pair repulsions, the lone pair occupies one of the equatorial positions. The molecular structure ([link]) is that of a seesaw ([link]).

Two diagrams are shown and labeled, “a” and “b.” Diagram a shows a sulfur atom in the center of a six-sided bi-pyramidal shape. Diagram b shows the same image as diagram a, but this time there are fluorine atoms located at four corners of the pyramid shape and they are connected to the sulfur atom by single lines.

Check Your Learning Predict the electron pair geometry and molecular structure for molecules of XeF₂.

Answer:

The electron-pair geometry is trigonal bipyramidal. The molecular structure is linear.

Predicting Electron-pair Geometry and Molecular Structure: XeF₄ Of all the noble gases, xenon is the most reactive, frequently reacting with elements such as oxygen and fluorine. Predict the electron-pair geometry and molecular structure of the XeF₄ molecule.

Solution The Lewis structure of XeF₄ indicates six regions of high electron density around the xenon atom: two lone pairs and four bonds:

A Lewis structure depicts a xenon atom with two lone pairs of electrons that is single bonded to four fluorine atoms, each with three lone pairs of electrons. These six regions adopt an octahedral arrangement ([link]), which is the electron-pair geometry. To minimize repulsions, the lone pairs should be on opposite sides of the central atom ([link]). The five atoms are all in the same plane and have a square planar molecular structure.

Two diagrams are shown and labeled, “a” and “b.” Diagram a shows a xenon atom in the center of an eight-sided octahedral shape. Diagram b shows the same image as diagram a, but this time there are fluorine atoms located at the four corners of the shape in the horizontal plane. They are connected to the xenon by single lines.

Check Your Learning In a certain molecule, the central atom has three lone pairs and two bonds. What will the electron pair geometry and molecular structure be?

Answer:

electron pair geometry: trigonal bipyramidal; molecular structure: linear

Molecular Structure for Multicenter Molecules

When a molecule or polyatomic ion has only one central atom, the molecular structure completely describes the shape of the molecule. Larger molecules do not have a single central atom, but are connected by a chain of interior atoms that each possess a “local” geometry. The way these local structures are oriented with respect to each other also influences the molecular shape, but such considerations are largely beyond the scope of this introductory discussion. For our purposes, we will only focus on determining the local structures.

Predicting Structure in Multicenter Molecules The Lewis structure for the simplest amino acid, glycine, H₂NCH₂CO₂H, is shown here. Predict the local geometry for the nitrogen atom, the two carbon atoms, and the oxygen atom with a hydrogen atom attached:

Solution

Consider each central atom independently. The electron-pair geometries:

nitrogen––four regions of electron density; tetrahedral
carbon (CH₂)––four regions of electron density; tetrahedral
carbon (CO₂)—three regions of electron density; trigonal planar
oxygen (OH)—four regions of electron density; tetrahedral

The local structures:

nitrogen––three bonds, one lone pair; trigonal pyramidal
carbon (CH₂)—four bonds, no lone pairs; tetrahedral
carbon (CO₂)—three bonds (double bond counts as one bond), no lone pairs; trigonal planar
oxygen (OH)—two bonds, two lone pairs; bent (109°)

Check Your Learning Another amino acid is alanine, which has the Lewis structure shown here. Predict the electron-pair geometry and local structure of the nitrogen atom, the three carbon atoms, and the oxygen atom with hydrogen attached:

Answer:

electron-pair geometries: nitrogen––tetrahedral; carbon (CH)—tetrahedral; carbon (CH₃)—tetrahedral; carbon (CO₂)—trigonal planar; oxygen (OH)—tetrahedral; local structures: nitrogen—trigonal pyramidal; carbon (CH)—tetrahedral; carbon (CH₃)—tetrahedral; carbon (CO₂)—trigonal planar; oxygen (OH)—bent (109°)

Molecular Simulation Using molecular shape simulator allows us to control whether bond angles and/or lone pairs are displayed by checking or unchecking the boxes under “Options” on the right. We can also use the “Name” checkboxes at bottom-left to display or hide the electron pair geometry (called “electron geometry” in the simulator) and/or molecular structure (called “molecular shape” in the simulator).

Build the molecule HCN in the simulator based on the following Lewis structure:

H–C \equiv N

Click on each bond type or lone pair at right to add that group to the central atom. Once you have the complete molecule, rotate it to examine the predicted molecular structure. What molecular structure is this?

Solution The molecular structure is linear.

Check Your Learning Build a more complex molecule in the simulator. Identify the electron-group geometry, molecular structure, and bond angles. Then try to find a chemical formula that would match the structure you have drawn.

Answer:

Answers will vary. For example, an atom with four single bonds, a double bond, and a lone pair has an octahedral electron-group geometry and a square pyramidal molecular structure. XeOF₄ is a molecule that adopts this structure.

Molecular Polarity and Dipole Moment

As discussed previously, polar covalent bonds connect two atoms with differing electronegativities, leaving one atom with a partial positive charge (δ+) and the other atom with a partial negative charge (δ–), as the electrons are pulled toward the more electronegative atom. This separation of charge gives rise to a bond dipole moment. The magnitude of a bond dipole moment is represented by the Greek letter mu (µ) and is given by the formula shown here, where Q is the magnitude of the partial charges (determined by the electronegativity difference) and r is the distance between the charges:

This bond moment can be represented as a vector, a quantity having both direction and magnitude ([link]). Dipole vectors are shown as arrows pointing along the bond from the less electronegative atom toward the more electronegative atom. A small plus sign is drawn on the less electronegative end to indicate the partially positive end of the bond. The length of the arrow is proportional to the magnitude of the electronegativity difference between the two atoms.

A whole molecule may also have a separation of charge, depending on its molecular structure and the polarity of each of its bonds. If such a charge separation exists, the molecule is said to be a polar molecule (or dipole); otherwise the molecule is said to be nonpolar. The dipole moment measures the extent of net charge separation in the molecule as a whole. We determine the dipole moment by adding the bond moments in three-dimensional space, taking into account the molecular structure.

For diatomic molecules, there is only one bond, so its bond dipole moment determines the molecular polarity. Homonuclear diatomic molecules such as Br₂ and N₂ have no difference in electronegativity, so their dipole moment is zero. For heteronuclear molecules such as CO, there is a small dipole moment. For HF, there is a larger dipole moment because there is a larger difference in electronegativity.

When a molecule contains more than one bond, the geometry must be taken into account. If the bonds in a molecule are arranged such that their bond moments cancel (vector sum equals zero), then the molecule is nonpolar. This is the situation in CO₂ ([link]). Each of the bonds is polar, but the molecule as a whole is nonpolar. From the Lewis structure, and using VSEPR theory, we determine that the CO₂ molecule is linear with polar C=O bonds on opposite sides of the carbon atom. The bond moments cancel because they are pointed in opposite directions. In the case of the water molecule ([link]), the Lewis structure again shows that there are two bonds to a central atom, and the electronegativity difference again shows that each of these bonds has a nonzero bond moment. In this case, however, the molecular structure is bent because of the lone pairs on O, and the two bond moments do not cancel. Therefore, water does have a net dipole moment and is a polar molecule (dipole).

The OCS molecule has a structure similar to CO₂, but a sulfur atom has replaced one of the oxygen atoms. To determine if this molecule is polar, we draw the molecular structure. VSEPR theory predicts a linear molecule:

An image shows a carbon atom double bonded to a sulfur atom and an oxygen atom which are arranged in a horizontal plane. Two arrows face away from the center of the molecule in opposite directions and are drawn horizontally like the molecule. The left-facing arrow is larger than the right-facing arrow. These arrows are labeled, “Bond moments,” and a left-facing arrow below the molecule is labeled, “Overall dipole moment.”

The C-O bond is considerably polar. Although C and S have very similar electronegativity values, S is slightly more electronegative than C, and so the C-S bond is just slightly polar. Because oxygen is more electronegative than sulfur, the oxygen end of the molecule is the negative end.

Chloromethane, CH₃Cl, is another example of a polar molecule. Although the polar C–Cl and C–H bonds are arranged in a tetrahedral geometry, the C–Cl bonds have a larger bond moment than the C–H bond, and the bond moments do not completely cancel each other. All of the dipoles have an upward component in the orientation shown, since carbon is more electronegative than hydrogen and less electronegative than chlorine:

An image shows a carbon atom single bonded to three hydrogen atoms and a chlorine atom. There are arrows with crossed ends pointing from the hydrogen to the carbon near each bond, and one pointing from the carbon to the chlorine along that bond. The carbon and chlorine arrow is longer. This image uses dashes and wedges to give it a three-dimensional appearance.

When we examine the highly symmetrical molecules BF₃ (trigonal planar), CH₄ (tetrahedral), PF₅ (trigonal bipyramidal), and SF₆ (octahedral), in which all the polar bonds are identical, the molecules are nonpolar. The bonds in these molecules are arranged such that their dipoles cancel. However, just because a molecule contains identical bonds does not mean that the dipoles will always cancel. Many molecules that have identical bonds and lone pairs on the central atoms have bond dipoles that do not cancel. Examples include H₂S and NH₃. A hydrogen atom is at the positive end and a nitrogen or sulfur atom is at the negative end of the polar bonds in these molecules:

Properties of Polar Molecules

Polar molecules tend to align when placed in an electric field with the positive end of the molecule oriented toward the negative plate and the negative end toward the positive plate ([link]). We can use an electrically charged object to attract polar molecules, but nonpolar molecules are not attracted. Also, polar solvents are better at dissolving polar substances, and nonpolar solvents are better at dissolving nonpolar substances.

Polarity Simulations Open the molecule polarity simulation and select the “Three Atoms” tab at the top. This should display a molecule ABC with three electronegativity adjustors. You can display or hide the bond moments, molecular dipoles, and partial charges at the right. Turning on the Electric Field will show whether the molecule moves when exposed to a field, similar to [link].

Use the electronegativity controls to determine how the molecular dipole will look for the starting bent molecule if:

(a) A and C are very electronegative and B is in the middle of the range.

(b) A is very electronegative, and B and C are not.

Solution (a) Molecular dipole moment points immediately between A and C.

(b) Molecular dipole moment points along the A–B bond, toward A.

Check Your Learning Determine the partial charges that will give the largest possible bond dipoles.

Answer:

The largest bond moments will occur with the largest partial charges. The two solutions above represent how unevenly the electrons are shared in the bond. The bond moments will be maximized when the electronegativity difference is greatest. The controls for A and C should be set to one extreme, and B should be set to the opposite extreme. Although the magnitude of the bond moment will not change based on whether B is the most electronegative or the least, the direction of the bond moment will.

Key Concepts and Summary

VSEPR theory predicts the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. It states that valence electrons will assume an electron-pair geometry that minimizes repulsions between areas of high electron density (bonds and/or lone pairs). Molecular structure, which refers only to the placement of atoms in a molecule and not the electrons, is equivalent to electron-pair geometry only when there are no lone electron pairs around the central atom. A dipole moment measures a separation of charge. For one bond, the bond dipole moment is determined by the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms. For a molecule, the overall dipole moment is determined by both the individual bond moments and how these dipoles are arranged in the molecular structure. Polar molecules (those with an appreciable dipole moment) interact with electric fields, whereas nonpolar molecules do not.

Chemistry End of Chapter Exercises

Explain why the HOH molecule is bent, whereas the HBeH molecule is linear.

The placement of the two sets of unpaired electrons in water forces the bonds to assume a tetrahedral arrangement, and the resulting HOH molecule is bent. The HBeH molecule (in which Be has only two electrons to bond with the two electrons from the hydrogens) must have the electron pairs as far from one another as possible and is therefore linear.

Predict the electron pair geometry and the molecular structure of each of the following molecules or ions:

(a) SF₆

(b) PCl₅

(d) ${CH}_{3}^{+}$

(a) Both the electron geometry and the molecular structure are octahedral.* * *

(b) Both the electron geometry and the molecular structure are trigonal bipyramid.* * *

(d) Both the electron geometry and the molecular structure are trigonal planar.* * *

What are the electron-pair geometry and the molecular structure of each of the following molecules or ions?

(a) ClF₅

(b) ${ClO}_{2}^{−}$

(d) PCl₃

(e) SeF₄

(f) ${PH}_{2}^{−}$

(a) electron-pair geometry: octahedral, molecular structure: square pyramidal; (b) electron-pair geometry: tetrahedral, molecular structure: bent; (c) electron-pair geometry: octahedral, molecular structure: square planar; (d) electron-pair geometry: tetrahedral, molecular structure: trigonal pyramidal; (e) electron-pair geometry: trigonal bypyramidal, molecular structure: seesaw; (f) electron-pair geometry: tetrahedral, molecular structure: bent (109°)

Predict the electron pair geometry and the molecular structure of each of the following ions:

(a) H₃O⁺

(b) ${PCl}_{4}^{−}$

(d) ${BrCl}_{4}^{−}$

(e) ICl₃

(f) XeF₄

(g) SF₂

Identify the electron pair geometry and the molecular structure of each of the following molecules:

(a) ClNO (N is the central atom)

(b) CS₂

(d) Cl₂SO (S is the central atom)

(e) SO₂F₂ (S is the central atom)

(f) XeO₂F₂ (Xe is the central atom)

(g) ${ClOF}_{2}^{+}$

(Cl is the central atom)

(a) electron-pair geometry: trigonal planar, molecular structure: bent (120°); (b) electron-pair geometry: linear, molecular structure: linear; (c) electron-pair geometry: trigonal planar, molecular structure: trigonal planar; (d) electron-pair geometry: tetrahedral, molecular structure: trigonal pyramidal; (e) electron-pair geometry: tetrahedral, molecular structure: tetrahedral; (f) electron-pair geometry: trigonal bipyramidal, molecular structure: seesaw; (g) electron-pair geometry: tetrahedral, molecular structure: trigonal pyramidal

Predict the electron pair geometry and the molecular structure of each of the following:

(a) IOF₅ (I is the central atom)

(b) POCl₃ (P is the central atom)

(d) ClSO⁺ (S is the central atom)

(e) F₂SO (S is the central atom)

(f) ${NO}_{2}^{−}$

(g) ${SiO}_{4}^{4−}$

Which of the following molecules and ions contain polar bonds? Which of these molecules and ions have dipole moments?

(a) ClF₅

(b) ${ClO}_{2}^{−}$

(d) PCl₃

(e) SeF₄

(f) ${PH}_{2}^{−}$

(g) XeF₂

All of these molecules and ions contain polar bonds. Only ClF₅, ${ClO}_{2}^{−},$

PCl₃, SeF₄, and ${PH}_{2}^{−}$

have dipole moments.

Which of these molecules and ions contain polar bonds? Which of these molecules and ions have dipole moments?

(a) H₃O⁺

(b) ${PCl}_{4}^{−}$

(d) ${BrCl}_{4}^{−}$

(e) ICl₃

(f) XeF₄

(g) SF₂

Which of the following molecules have dipole moments?

(a) CS₂

(b) SeS₂

(d) PCl₃ (P is the central atom)

(e) ClNO (N is the central atom)

SeS₂, CCl₂F₂, PCl₃, and ClNO all have dipole moments.

Describe the molecular structure around the indicated atom or atoms:

(a) the sulfur atom in sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄ [(HO)₂SO₂]

(b) the chlorine atom in chloric acid, HClO₃ [HOClO₂]

(d) the nitrogen atom in nitric acid, HNO₃ [HONO₂]

(e) the oxygen atom in the OH group in nitric acid, HNO₃ [HONO₂]

(f) the central oxygen atom in the ozone molecule, O₃

(g) each of the carbon atoms in propyne, CH₃CCH

(h) the carbon atom in Freon, CCl₂F₂

(i) each of the carbon atoms in allene, H₂CCCH₂

(a) tetrahedral; (b) trigonal pyramidal; (c) bent (109°); (d) trigonal planar; (e) bent (109°); (f) bent (109°); (g) CH₃CCH tetrahedral, CH₃CCH linear; (h) tetrahedral; (i) H₂CCCH₂ linear; H₂CCCH₂ trigonal planar

Draw the Lewis electron dot structures for these molecules, including resonance structures where appropriate:

(a) ${CS}_{3}^{2−}$

(b) CS₂

(d) predict the molecular shapes for ${CS}_{3}^{2−}$

and CS₂ and explain how you arrived at your predictions

(a)* * *

;* * *

(b)* * *

The Lewis structure shows a carbon atom double bonded to two sulfur atoms, each of which has two lone pairs of electrons. ;* * *

(c)* * *

This diagram shows a carbon with one lone electron pair triple bonded to a sulfur with one lone electron pair. ;* * *

(d) ${CS}_{3}^{2−}$

includes three regions of electron density (all are bonds with no lone pairs); the shape is trigonal planar; CS₂ has only two regions of electron density (all bonds with no lone pairs); the shape is linear

Use the simulation to perform the following exercises for a two-atom molecule:

(a) Adjust the electronegativity value so the bond dipole is pointing toward B. Then determine what the electronegativity values must be to switch the dipole so that it points toward A.

(b) With a partial positive charge on A, turn on the electric field and describe what happens.

(d) Reset all, and then with a large partial negative charge on A, turn on the electric field and describe what happens.

Use the simulation to perform the following exercises for a real molecule. You may need to rotate the molecules in three dimensions to see certain dipoles.

(a) Sketch the bond dipoles and molecular dipole (if any) for O_3. Explain your observations.

(b) Look at the bond dipoles for NH₃. Use these dipoles to predict whether N or H is more electronegative.

(c) Predict whether there should be a molecular dipole for NH₃ and, if so, in which direction it will point. Check the molecular dipole box to test your hypothesis.

The molecular dipole points away from the hydrogen atoms.

Use the Molecule Shape simulator to explore real molecules. On the Real Molecules tab, select H₂O. Switch between the “real” and “model” modes. Explain the difference observed.

The structures are very similar. In the model mode, each electron group occupies the same amount of space, so the bond angle is shown as 109.5°. In the “real” mode, the lone pairs are larger, causing the hydrogens to be compressed. This leads to the smaller angle of 104.5°.

Glossary

axial position: location in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry in which there is another atom at a 180° angle and the equatorial positions are at a 90° angle

bond angle: angle between any two covalent bonds that share a common atom

bond distance: (also, bond length) distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms

bond dipole moment: separation of charge in a bond that depends on the difference in electronegativity and the bond distance represented by partial charges or a vector

dipole moment: property of a molecule that describes the separation of charge determined by the sum of the individual bond moments based on the molecular structure

electron-pair geometry: arrangement around a central atom of all regions of electron density (bonds, lone pairs, or unpaired electrons)

equatorial position: one of the three positions in a trigonal bipyramidal geometry with 120° angles between them; the axial positions are located at a 90° angle

linear: shape in which two outside groups are placed on opposite sides of a central atom

molecular structure: structure that includes only the placement of the atoms in the molecule

octahedral: shape in which six outside groups are placed around a central atom such that a three-dimensional shape is generated with four groups forming a square and the other two forming the apex of two pyramids, one above and one below the square plane

polar molecule: (also, dipole) molecule with an overall dipole moment

tetrahedral: shape in which four outside groups are placed around a central atom such that a three-dimensional shape is generated with four corners and 109.5° angles between each pair and the central atom

trigonal bipyramidal: shape in which five outside groups are placed around a central atom such that three form a flat triangle with 120° angles between each pair and the central atom, and the other two form the apex of two pyramids, one above and one below the triangular plane

trigonal planar: shape in which three outside groups are placed in a flat triangle around a central atom with 120° angles between each pair and the central atom

valence shell electron-pair repulsion theory (VSEPR): theory used to predict the bond angles in a molecule based on positioning regions of high electron density as far apart as possible to minimize electrostatic repulsion

vector: quantity having magnitude and direction