Question

identify the electron pair and molecular geometries of a molecule containing four single bonds and one lone pair on the central atom m. draw the molecule and note spatial positioning of bonds.

Answer 1

Molecules that have four single bonds and one lone pair on the central atom are classified as having a trigonal bipyramidal electron pair geometry.

This means that the four electron pairs surrounding the central atom are arranged in a trigonal bipyramidal shape, with the lone pair occupying one of the equatorial positions (positions 1, 2, or 3).

The molecular geometry of this type of molecule depends on the type of central atom.

However, if the central atom is a polar atom such as sulfur, the molecular geometry will be distorted from trigonal bipyramidal to seesaw due to the repulsion between the lone pair and the bonding pairs.