Question

In an ABx molecule, the angle between two adjacent A-B bonds is called the _____ angle. This angle is determined by the number of_____ domains or groups surrounding the central atom.

Answer 1

The angle between two adjacent A-B bonds in an ABx molecule is the bond angle, and it is determined by the number of electron domain groups, including bonding and lone pairs, surrounding the central atom.

Step-by-step explanation:

In an ABx molecule, the angle between two adjacent A-B bonds is called the bond angle. This angle is determined by the number of electron domain groups surrounding the central atom. In molecules like carbon dioxide (CO2), which has a linear molecular geometry, the bond angle is 180 degrees. The number of bonding and lone pairs of electrons dictates the shape and angles in a molecule. For instance, a molecule with a central atom that is surrounded by four bonds (AB4) typically has a tetrahedral geometry with bond angles of approximately 109.5 degrees. In contrast, when the central atom has one or more lone pairs, the molecular geometry changes; for example, with three bonding pairs and two lone pairs (AX3E2), the arrangement is such that repulsions are minimized, commonly resulting in a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement of the electron domains.