The correct increasing order for bond angles among BF3, PF3 and ClF3 is:
Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question
The correct increasing order for bond angles among , and is:
- a
- b✓
- c
- d
🧠 Increasing lone pairs on the central atom compresses bond angles. Compare these three trihalides: has no LP, has 1 LP, has 2 LP.
| Molecule | Lone pairs on central | Shape | Bond angle | |---|---|---|---| | | 0 | Trigonal planar | 120° | | | 1 | Trigonal pyramidal | ~97.8° | | | 2 | T-shaped | ~87.5° (F–Cl–F axial) |
Each additional lone pair exerts greater repulsion than bond pairs, compressing the remaining bond angles further.
Increasing bond angle:
⚡ In the T-shape has an F–Cl–F angle of ~87.5° (well below 90°) due to 2 LP occupying equatorial positions and strongly repelling the axial F–Cl bonds.
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