In: Chemistry
Consider the structural changes that occur in the following molecules. BH3, CH4, NH3, H2O, HF
a. according to Lewis and VSEPR theory, why doe these changed occur?
b. what are the ideal bond angles for each structure, and which are expected to be distorted?
a)
BH3 Lewis Structure - Boron is an exception to the octet rule and only needs six valence electrons for a full outer shell.
Methane has 8 electrons around the central carbon atom. This means there are four electron pairs arranged in a tetrahedral shape. There are no lone pairs. The resulting shape is a regular tetrahedron with an H-C-H angle of 109.5°.
No distortion perfect tetrahedral
NH3
Ammonia has 8 electrons around the central nitrogen atom. This means there are four electron pairs arranged in a tetrahedral shape. There are three bonding pairs and one lone pair. The resulting shape is a trigonal pyramid with an H-N-H angle of 106.7°.
The distortion from perfect tetrahedral is due to lone pair bond pair repulsion.
Water has 8 electrons around the central oxygen atom. This means there are four electron pairs arranged in a tetrahedral shape. There are two bonding pairs and two lone pairs. The resulting shape is bent with an H-O-H angle of 104.5°.
Beacuse it has repulsion between lone pair and bond pair which is larger than in ammonia the distortion from tetrahedral is larger.
In HF we have 7 electrons from Fluorine and 1 one electron from hydrogen completing the octete of Fluorine and one bond pair and it is a linear molcule due to 3 lone pairs.
H------F