seesaw v trigonal planar

[205957986]

what is the difference between a molecule with a molecular geometry of a seesaw and a molecule with a molecular geometry of a trigonal planar.

[Valeria Perez 3J]

Seesaw geometry means that your central atom has 4 outer atoms bound to it and 1 lone pair of electrons. Trigonal planar, however, must be only 3 outer atoms attached to the central atom and has no lone pairs. It's kind of like an equilateral triangle.

[Leia1H]

In both situations, the central molecule is bonding at five points. However, in trigonal bipyramidal all five bonds are to other atoms, while in a seesaw geometry, four are to atoms and one is to a lone pair.