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180degrees and lone pairs?

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:25 pm
by SPandya1F
In problem 4.1, the ball-and-shape model b is 180 degrees. The answer says "may contain lone pairs". If lone pairs affect the shape of the molecule, how can a molecule with lone pairs be 180 degrees (linear)?

Re: 180degrees and lone pairs?

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 8:31 pm
by Katie Lam 1B
It could be trigonal bipyramidal with 3 lone pairs and a 180 degree bond angle.

Re: 180degrees and lone pairs?

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:01 pm
by mayapartha_1D
Yes, it could be trigonal bipyramidal! The lone pair electrons may balance each other out to make it possible.

Re: 180degrees and lone pairs?

Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:33 pm
by Clement Ng
The molecule may have an electron configuration of a square planar.

Re: 180degrees and lone pairs?

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2017 7:55 pm
by Yuting Zhu 3D
The electron arrangement and the molecular shape are two different things since the molecular shape only considers atoms but not lone pairs.
The electron arrangement could be trigonal bipyramidal. But could it also be octahedral with four lone pairs? Can someone answer that for me?