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What effect does one unbonded pair of electrons have on the shape of a molecule?
Wiki User
∙ 6y ago
Lone pairs will repel slightly more than bond pairs of electrons. Each lone pair will reduce the bond angle expected by around 2.5 degrees, as a general guide. For example, water has four sets of electrons, so if it had those arranged as in methane, which has four bond pairs, we'd expect the bond angle to be 109.5 degrees. However, the lone pairs repel more, decreasing the bond angle down to 104.5 degrees. The theory is called VSEPR theory and is well explained in the excellent website Chemguide.
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoValence shell electron pair repulsion theory says that all pairs of valence (outer shell)electrons around the central atom will repel one another so as to be as far apart as possible. So in methane CH4 the four shared pairs repe one another to the corners of a tetrahedron. In ammonia there are three shared pairs between the nitrogen and the hydrogens and one lone pair. The lone pair is closer in to the central atom than the shared pairs are, so it repels slightly more. This pushes the bond angle down from the tetrahedral angle of 109.5 to 107 degrees. In water there are two shared pairs so the angle is decreased a little more down to 104 degrees. If you Google VSEPR you will find a good explanation and some diagrams quite easily.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoyou know what it is?
black and yellow black and yellow black and yellow black and yellow
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∙ 14y agoby make more molecules and mor powa!
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoThe bonding angles are modified.
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What is the shape of the molecule of nbr3?
The lone unbonded pair of electrons around nitrogen dictates that the NBr3 molecule will have a 3-D trigonal pyramidal shape.
Is arsenic trichloride a polar or nonpolar molecule?
its polar there are two unbonded electrons on the central atom, As (Arsenic) The molecule has eight valence electrons in total from the Hydrogen and Arsenic. Six of these are used for the three bonds, but there are two extra attached to the As. The unbonded electrons have a greater effect on the shape of the molecule, and will skew it so that it is bent. The bonds between the As and H will then combine to form a force that does not balance out. There is a dipole moment, and it is therefore a polar molecule.
Is a tetrahedral molecule non polar?
Yes, they generally are. In the case of ammonia, NH3, nitrogen has an electron pair and three unpaired electrons (as per Hund's rule.) The pair remains unbonded, but each single electron bonds single-covalently to a hydrogen. The unbonded pair "pushes" the 3 bonded hydrogens downward into a "tripod" shape, making the molecule pyramidal. The molecule is polar because the unbonded pair constitutes a negative partial charge.
Can a molecule made of three atoms be linear if so how?
Yes it can, if there are no lone, unbonded pairs of electrons around the central atom. Water has 3 atoms, but also has 2 unbonded pairs. It is therefore a bent shape. Carbon dioxide, however, has no unbonded pairs, and is linear with 3 atoms.
What is the polarity of the HCl molecule due to?
Greater attraction of the chlorine nucleus for the shared electrons, large differences in electronegativity, and shape of the molecule.
What is the shape of the molecule of nbr3?
The lone unbonded pair of electrons around nitrogen dictates that the NBr3 molecule will have a 3-D trigonal pyramidal shape.
Is arsenic trichloride a polar or nonpolar molecule?
its polar there are two unbonded electrons on the central atom, As (Arsenic) The molecule has eight valence electrons in total from the Hydrogen and Arsenic. Six of these are used for the three bonds, but there are two extra attached to the As. The unbonded electrons have a greater effect on the shape of the molecule, and will skew it so that it is bent. The bonds between the As and H will then combine to form a force that does not balance out. There is a dipole moment, and it is therefore a polar molecule.
How do electrons influence the shape of a molecule?
It depends on the # of electrons are in it.
Is a tetrahedral molecule non polar?
Yes, they generally are. In the case of ammonia, NH3, nitrogen has an electron pair and three unpaired electrons (as per Hund's rule.) The pair remains unbonded, but each single electron bonds single-covalently to a hydrogen. The unbonded pair "pushes" the 3 bonded hydrogens downward into a "tripod" shape, making the molecule pyramidal. The molecule is polar because the unbonded pair constitutes a negative partial charge.
Can a molecule made of three atoms be linear if so how?
Yes it can, if there are no lone, unbonded pairs of electrons around the central atom. Water has 3 atoms, but also has 2 unbonded pairs. It is therefore a bent shape. Carbon dioxide, however, has no unbonded pairs, and is linear with 3 atoms.
What can effect the shape of an enzyme molecule?
Temperature
What is molecular shape of BF3?
The shape of this molecule is Trigonal Planar. this is because it has no lone pairs of electrons so it maintains a 2D shape.
How does a water molecule look like?
A water molecule is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The hydrogen atoms are smaller than the oxygen atom. They are bonded together by covalent bonds in a 'bent' shape (like a shallow 'v') with the oxygen in the middle, at the point. The 'v' shape is because the oxygen atom has two pairs of unbonded electrons on, and they push the bonds further round the atom.
What is the polarity of the HCl molecule due to?
Greater attraction of the chlorine nucleus for the shared electrons, large differences in electronegativity, and shape of the molecule.
A molecule with a bent shape with a bond angle of 104.5 would have how many unshared electrons around the central atom Count electrons not electron pairs?
four electrons . four electrons .
Why do water molecules have bent shape and carbon dioxide molecules have a linear shape?
In a water molecule, there are two lone pairs of electrons connected to the oxygen. The lone pairs push the hydrogen atoms, creating a bent shape. In CO2, however, there are two double bonds and no lone electrons on the central atom, hence the molecule has a linear shape.
What factors affect the shape of the molecule?
The factors affecting the shape of the molecules are the bonded e and the lone pairs of electrons
