JEE Main · 2020 · Shift-ImediumBOND-088

If AB4 molecule is a polar molecule, a possible geometry of AB4 is:

Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

If AB4\mathrm{AB_4} molecule is a polar molecule, a possible geometry of AB4\mathrm{AB_4} is:

Options
  1. a

    Square pyramidal

  2. b

    Tetrahedral

  3. c

    Rectangular planar

  4. d

    Square planar

Correct Answera

Square pyramidal

Detailed Solution

🧠 For an \ceAB4\ce{AB4} 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.

Answer: (a) Square pyramidal\boxed{\text{Answer: (a) Square pyramidal}}

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