JEE Main · 2019 · Shift-ImediumBOND-170

The correct statement among the following is:

Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

The correct statement among the following is:

Options
  1. a

    (SiH3)3N\mathrm{(SiH_3)_3N} is planar and less basic than (CH3)3N\mathrm{(CH_3)_3N}

  2. b

    (SiH3)3N\mathrm{(SiH_3)_3N} is pyramidal and more basic than (CH3)3N\mathrm{(CH_3)_3N}

  3. c

    (SiH3)3N\mathrm{(SiH_3)_3N} is pyramidal and less basic than (CH3)3N\mathrm{(CH_3)_3N}

  4. d

    (SiH3)3N\mathrm{(SiH_3)_3N} is planar and more basic than (CH3)3N\mathrm{(CH_3)_3N}

Correct Answera

(SiH3)3N\mathrm{(SiH_3)_3N} is planar and less basic than (CH3)3N\mathrm{(CH_3)_3N}

Detailed Solution

🧠 In (SiH3)3N\mathrm{(SiH_3)_3N}, silicon has vacant 3d-orbitals that can accept the lone pair from nitrogen, creating pπ–dπ back-bonding.

🗺️ (CH3)3N\mathrm{(CH_3)_3N} (trimethylamine):

  • N is sp³ hybridized → pyramidal
  • Lone pair in sp³ orbital, fully localized on N → freely available for protonation
  • Pyramidal, stronger base

(SiH3)3N\mathrm{(SiH_3)_3N} (trisilylamine):

  • Si has empty 3d-orbitals; N donates its lone pair into Si 3d via pπ–dπ overlap
  • N becomes sp² hybridized (lone pair occupies p-orbital that overlaps with Si d-orbitals → donated away)
  • Molecule becomes planar (all N–Si bonds and the N lone pair coplanar)
  • Lone pair is delocalized → N is much less basic

⚡ Analogous to why N(BF₃)₃ is a weaker base than N(CH₃)₃ — back-donation to empty orbitals removes electron density from N.

Answer: planar and less basic than (CH3)3N\boxed{\text{Answer: planar and less basic than } \mathrm{(CH_3)_3N}}

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