If AB4 molecule is a polar molecule, a possible geometry of AB4 is:
Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question
If molecule is a polar molecule, a possible geometry of is:
- a✓
Square pyramidal
- b
Tetrahedral
- c
Rectangular planar
- d
Square planar
Square pyramidal
🧠 For an molecule to be polar, the arrangement of 4 identical B atoms around A must be asymmetric so that bond dipoles do not cancel.
- Tetrahedral AB4 (symmetric, all B equivalent) → bond dipoles cancel → nonpolar ✗
- Square planar AB4 (symmetric, all B equivalent) → bond dipoles cancel → nonpolar ✗
- Square pyramidal AB4 (A sits at the apex above the square base of 4 B atoms, with a lone pair occupying the position below A): the A atom is displaced from the geometric centre → the 4 bond dipoles point outward symmetrically in the base but there is an asymmetry along the axis → net dipole → polar ✓
⚡ A real example: if a central atom A has 4 identical B bonds and 1 lone pair arranged square pyramidally, the lone pair creates the asymmetry that gives a net dipole.
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