Question 7
Discuss the shape of the following molecules using the VSEPR model:
BeCl2, BCl3, SiCl4, AsF5, H2S, PH3
Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR)theory :
It is a model used to predict the 3D geometry of individual molecules from the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms. It was developed by Gillespie & Nyholm.The various geometries are as follows according to number of lone pair present:
BeCl2:
The central atom has no lone pair and there are two bond pairs. i.e., BeCl2 is of the type EX2. Hence, it has a linear shape.
BCl3:
The central atom has no lone pair and there are three bond pairs. Hence, it is of the type EX3. Hence, it is trigonal planar.
SiCl4:
The central atom has no lone pair and there are four bond pairs. Hence, the shape of SiCl4 is tetrahedral being the EX4 type molecule.
AsF5:
The central atom has no lone pair and there are five bond pairs. Hence, AsF5 is of the type EX5. Therefore, the shape is trigonal bipyramidal.
H2S:
The central atom has one lone pair and there are two bond pairs. Hence, H2S is of the type AB2E. The shape is Bent.
PH3:
The central atom has one lone pair and there are three bond pairs. Hence, PH3 is of the EX5 type. Therefore, the shape is trigonal bipyramidal.
