A molecule with 4 single bonds and 1 lone pair of electrons is predicted to have which type of molecular geometry
A) Octahedral
B) T-shaped
C) Seesaw
D) Trigonal bipyramidal
E) Linear

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The molecule with 4 single bonds and 1 lone pair of electrons has a total of 5 electron domains. Based on VSEPR theory, this gives it a molecular geometry of either trigonal bipyramidal or seesaw. However, the presence of the lone pair of electrons makes it impossible for the molecule to have a trigonal bipyramidal geometry due to the large number of lone pair-lone pair and lone pair-bonding pair repulsions. Therefore, the only possible geometry is seesaw.

A Molecule with 4 Single Bonds and 1 Lone Pair