Lone Pairs vs Bonding Pairs

(Polar molecules, Non-polar molecules, etc.)

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AGaeta_2C
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Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:21 am

Lone Pairs vs Bonding Pairs

Postby AGaeta_2C » Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:25 pm

Why do lone pairs "take up" more space than bonding pairs?
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Jesalynne 2F
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Joined: Wed Sep 18, 2019 12:18 am

Re: Lone Pairs vs Bonding Pairs

Postby Jesalynne 2F » Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:26 pm

I am not sure about “taking up space,” but lone pairs have a high repulsion force so they distort the bond angles and force the bonding pairs in the molecule closer together.
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Sydney Myers 4I
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Joined: Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:17 am

Re: Lone Pairs vs Bonding Pairs

Postby Sydney Myers 4I » Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:35 pm

If you wanted to think of it spatially, bonding pairs are being shared with another atom, so they don't take up as much space on an atom because their orbital is larger. Lone pairs tend to stay on one atom, so they would have a higher repulsion force.
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