Question

Use VSEPR theory to predict the shape of the chlorate ion, CIO₃⁻.

- trigonal planar
- octahedral
- trigonal pyramidal
- bent

Answer 1

Using VSEPR theory, the shape of the chlorate ion (ClO3-) is determined to be trigonal pyramidal, as the central chlorine atom is surrounded by three bonding pairs and one lone pair of electrons.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to VSEPR theory, the shape of the chlorate ion (ClO3−) can be predicted by determining the arrangement of electron pairs around the central chlorine atom after drawing its Lewis structure. The chlorine atom in ClO3− is surrounded by three bonding pairs and one lone pair of electrons. This results in a total of four electron pairs, which according to VSEPR, adopt a tetrahedral electron pair geometry to minimize repulsion. However, the molecular shape accounts only for the positions of the atoms, not the lone pairs. Thus, the shape is trigonal pyramidal, with the three oxygen atoms and the lone pair attempting to be as far apart as possible.