Question

A Lewis structure for TeF₅⁻ is shown below on the left. Predict whether bonding angles A and B will be equal to, greater than, or less than the ideal bonding angles according to the VSEPR model.

Options:
a) Equal to
b) Greater than
c) Less than
d) Cannot be determined

Answer 1

The bonding angles A and B in TeF₅⁻ are predicted to be less than the ideal bonding angles because of the repulsion from the lone electron pair, as described by the VSEPR theory.

Step-by-step explanation:

To predict whether bonding angles A and B in the TeF₅⁻ structure will be equal to, greater than, or less than the ideal bonding angles according to the VSEPR model, we must consider the Lewis structure and electron pairs present. The central tellurium atom in TeF₅⁻ has five bonding pairs and one lone pair. This leads to a molecular geometry that is similar to a seesaw. According to VSEPR theory, the presence of the lone pair means that there is increased electron pair repulsion, which would distort the angles from their ideal geometrical shape. Therefore, we predict that the bonding angles A and B will likely be less than the ideal bonding angles for a molecule with no lone pairs.