Equatorial/ Axial Planes

[Carolina Gomez 2G]

How do we determine when an atom in a molecule is on the axial or equatorial plane?

[Alex Benson]

Axial bonds tend to go up and down and equatorial remain on the same horizontal plane!

[Sondia Luong 1C]

Atoms are on the equatorial plane if they are arranged around the central atom while atoms separated from each other and that are only attached to atoms around the central ones are axial. It's a bit confusing to understand through a worded explanation, but sapling #5 has a visual that explains the concept pretty well!

[Alan Huang 1E]

I think the Sapling explained it very well. It's similar to the Earth with equator and its axes.

Atoms will be on the equatorial plane if they are on the sides of the molecule surrounding it and they will be on the axial planes if they are above or below I suppose.

[Izamary Marquez 2H]

In addition to this, if a molecule is rooted, would the axial and equatorial planes be the same? In other words, are the axes consistent or are they always with regards to the vertical and horizontal planes?

[Karen Elrayes 1L]

Equatorial is kind of like the equator of the earth so it would help you visualize that they are the bonds on the horizal planes and axial are like the axis of the earth

[nayha a 1E]

Equatorial atoms go horizontal on the same plane as the central atom. Think of it like Earth's equator. Axial atoms are above or below the central atom.

[Diana Aguilar 3H]

Equatorial atoms positioned horizontally on the same plane as the central atom and surround it you could say, while axial atoms are vertical which would be above and below the central atom.

[Mary Shih 3J]

axial is up and down (north or south) so similar to the poles on the earth. Equatorial is horizontal plane similar to the equator on the earth.

[Alejandro Gonzalez 2G]

I like to think of it as axial being up and down (sort of like an x and y-axis) while equatorial is a horizontal plane (like the Earth's equator).

[Andy Hernandez]

Equitorial planes are basically side to side while axial is up and down. so like in an xy graph, y is axial, and x is equitorial

[joshtully]

Equatorial planes are horizontal (like the Earth's equator) and axial planes are vertical (like the Earth's axis).

[Mari Williams 1K]

Think equator and axis! Equatorial planes go horizontal, and axial planes are vertical.

[Ria Nawathe 1C]

You would place a lone pair on the equatorial vs axial plane based on which position would limit the number of 90 degree interactions with the other atoms in the molecule, since these interactions are unfavorable.

[Katie Nye 2F]

The atoms bonded to the central atom should be as far away from each other as possible because of repulsion. I think that is the greatest determining factor as to what shape the molecule is and then you can see which atoms are equatorial and which are axial.