A. What Is The Electron-Pair Geometry For N In NO2F? There Are Lone Pair(S) Around The Central Atom, So The Geometry Of NO F Is B. What Is The Electron-Pair Geometry For N In NH ? There Are Lone Pair(S) Around The Central Atom, So The Geometry Of NH, Is
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
Let’s break down the two parts of the question:
A. Electron-Pair Geometry for N in NO₂F
In NO₂F (Nitrogen Dioxide Fluoride), nitrogen (N) is the central atom, and it is bonded to two oxygen (O) atoms and one fluorine (F) atom. The nitrogen has one lone pair of electrons.
Step 1: Determine the number of electron pairs around nitrogen
- Nitrogen forms two bonds with oxygen and one bond with fluorine. So, there are three bonding pairs of electrons.
- Additionally, nitrogen has one lone pair of electrons.
Thus, nitrogen has a total of four electron pairs (three bonding pairs + one lone pair).
Step 2: Determine the electron-pair geometry
When a central atom has four electron pairs (including lone pairs), the ideal electron-pair geometry is tetrahedral. However, lone pairs take up more space than bonding pairs, so the actual molecular shape of NO₂F is bent or V-shaped due to the presence of the lone pair.
B. Electron-Pair Geometry for N in NH₃
In NH₃ (Ammonia), nitrogen is the central atom, bonded to three hydrogen (H) atoms. Nitrogen has one lone pair of electrons.
Step 1: Determine the number of electron pairs around nitrogen
- Nitrogen forms three bonds with hydrogen atoms. So, there are three bonding pairs of electrons.
- Additionally, nitrogen has one lone pair of electrons.
Thus, nitrogen has a total of four electron pairs (three bonding pairs + one lone pair).
Step 2: Determine the electron-pair geometry
Similar to NO₂F, nitrogen in NH₃ has four electron pairs, which gives it a tetrahedral electron-pair geometry. However, since one of these electron pairs is a lone pair, the molecular geometry of NH₃ is trigonal pyramidal.
Conclusion:
- NO₂F has a tetrahedral electron-pair geometry, but its molecular shape is bent due to the lone pair on nitrogen.
- NH₃ has a tetrahedral electron-pair geometry, but its molecular shape is trigonal pyramidal due to the lone pair on nitrogen.
In both cases, the lone pairs influence the actual shape of the molecules, making it deviate from the ideal geometry.