HI! Can someone explain how to know when a molecule is linear or not? Does it matter if it has a negative or positive charge? This weeks homework is asking questions on it.
For example, Which molecules are linear?
NO-2
XeF2
BeCl2
SF2
Linear
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isaiah_granados_2l
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Re: Linear
Hi,
the first thing you can do is find the lewis structures of each of the elements. Make sure the formal charge of the atoms matches the overall charge of the molecule. Using the VESPER formula you would find the amount of atoms that are bounded to the central atom and the number of lone pair electrons that are bounded to the central atom. Next, you would use the chart for bond angles to see what types of bonds are created have on the overall shape. Hope that helps!
the first thing you can do is find the lewis structures of each of the elements. Make sure the formal charge of the atoms matches the overall charge of the molecule. Using the VESPER formula you would find the amount of atoms that are bounded to the central atom and the number of lone pair electrons that are bounded to the central atom. Next, you would use the chart for bond angles to see what types of bonds are created have on the overall shape. Hope that helps!
Re: Linear
Another way to determine if a molecule is linear is if the formal charges are equal like in O=C=O assuming there are 4 lone pairs on each oxygen molecule while carbon has a formal charge of zero and no lone pairs there is no distortion caused by lone pairs that makes the bonds linear.
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