A central atom in a molecule has two lone pairs of electrons and forms three single bonds. The shape of this molecule is
Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question
A central atom in a molecule has two lone pairs of electrons and forms three single bonds. The shape of this molecule is
- a
See-saw
- b
Planar triangular
- c✓
T-shaped
- d
Trigonal pyramidal
T-shaped
🧠 Count total electron groups: 3 single bonds + 2 lone pairs = steric number 5 → trigonal bipyramidal electron geometry. The 2 lone pairs occupy the equatorial positions (lowest repulsion), leaving the 3 bond pairs in a T arrangement.
Molecular shape = T-shaped (2 axial bonds + 1 equatorial bond, with 2 LP in the equatorial plane).
⚠️ Trap: Trigonal pyramidal (option d) requires 3 bonds + 1 LP (steric number 4). Here there are 2 LP, not 1. See-saw requires 4 bonds + 1 LP (steric number 5 but different LP count).
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