Question

Predict the approximate molecular geometry around each carbon atom of acetonitrile. A central carbon atom is connected to a second carbon atom through a single bond and to a nitrogen atom through a triple bond. The outer carbon atom is connected to three hydrogen atoms. The nitrogen atom has one lone pair of electrons. The carbon atom in CH3 is: trigonal planar linear trigonal pyramidal tetrahedral bent The nitrile carbon atom ( C≡N ) is: trigonal pyramidal bent tetrahedral trigonal planar linear

Answer 1

The CH₃ carbon atom has tetrahedral geometry and the nitrile carbon atom has linear geometry

Step-by-step explanation:

According to VSEPR theory, in an acetonitrile:

The outer carbon atom CH₃, which is connected to three hydrogen atoms and one central carbon atom, has 4 bond pairs of electrons and zero lone pair. Therefore, outer carbon atom CH₃ has a TETRAHEDRAL geometry.

The nitrile carbon atom (C≡N), which forms a single bond with the outer CH₃ carbon atom and triple bond with the nitrogen atom, has two bond pairs and zero lone pairs.

Therefore, nitrile carbon atom has a LINEAR geometry.