Trigonal Bipyramidal

[chrisdinkel_4E]

When replacing an atom with a lone pair (molecule with 3 bonds and 2 electron pairs), why do you take away from the equatorial atoms and not the axial atoms?

[spark99]

Due to the high repulsive energy that lone pairs have, you have to think of the best possible place to put it so that the molecule is the most stable. Thus, when placing lone pairs, putting it in the equitorial position provides the most stability.

[Eunice Lee 1A]

The axial bonds have a 90-degree bond angle with the equatorial bonds, while the equatorial bonds have a 120-degree bond angle with each other. Since the bond angles of the equatorial bonds are greater than those of the axial bonds, these atoms are replaced with the lone pairs because it gives the lone pair more space.

[Ethan Breaux 2F]

Maybe I'm just reading this wrong but are you referring to see saw?

[Ricardo Martin 1J]

Maybe I'm just reading this wrong but are you referring to see saw?

I don't think it's see saw, I think it is T-shape because I believe the structure being described has 3 bonds and 2 lone pairs, but maybe I also read it wrong.

[Cameron_Greenberg_3C]

Maybe I'm just reading this wrong but are you referring to see saw?

I don't think it's see saw, I think it is T-shape because I believe the structure being described has 3 bonds and 2 lone pairs, but maybe I also read it wrong.

Yes, trigonal bipyramidal has five bonds and no lone pairs, while T-shape has the VSEPR AX3E2. So the molecule in question has a T-shape formation.

[Rosha Mamita 2H]

Maybe I'm just reading this wrong but are you referring to see saw?

See saw refers to a molecule with formula AX4E (4 bonds and one lone pair) while T shaped refers to a molecule with formula AX3E2 (3 bonds and two lone pairs)