Final answer:
The molecular geometry of nitrogen trichloride (NCl3) is trigonal pyramidal, as predicted by VSEPR theory, due to the arrangement of three bonding pairs and one lone pair around nitrogen.
Step-by-step explanation:
Using VSEPR theory to predict the molecular geometry of nitrogen trichloride (NCl3), we consider that nitrogen has five valence electrons and each chlorine atom contributes one, making a total of eight electrons or four electron pairs to distribute around the nitrogen. Three of these pairs are used in bonding with the chlorine atoms, while one pair remains as a lone pair on the nitrogen. According to the VSEPR model, these four electron pairs will arrange themselves in a tetrahedral fashion to minimize repulsion, but the presence of the lone pair results in a distortion, creating a trigonal pyramidal geometry where the lone pair occupies one of the corners of an imaginary tetrahedron. Option E, trigonal pyramidal, is the correct answer.