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Which pair of electron domains generates the most repulsion?

a) Bonding pair - bonding pair
b) Bonding pair - lone pair
c) Lone pair - lone pair
d) All generate equal repulsion

User Mittal
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Final answer:

The pair of electron domains that generates the most repulsion is the lone pair-lone pair (LP-LP) due to lone pairs occupying more space and hence having a greater electrostatic repulsion compared to bonding pairs.

Step-by-step explanation:

The pair of electron domains that generates the most repulsion is c) Lone pair - lone pair. Lone pairs of electrons occupy a larger region of space compared to bonding electrons because they are not shared between two nuclei.

As a result, the order of repulsion from least to greatest is bonding pair-bonding pair (BP-BP) < lone pair-bonding pair (LP-BP) < lone pair-lone pair (LP-LP). This is because electrostatic repulsion is greater when electron density regions are closer together, and lone pairs naturally occupy more space, leading to stronger repulsions.

User Vitae Aliquam
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