Give the number of lone pairs around the central atom and the molecular geometry of IF₅. A) 0 lone pairs, square pyramidal B) 0 lone pairs, trigonal bipyramidal C) 1 lone pair, octahedral D) 1 lone pair, square pyramidal E) 2 lone pairs, pentagonal

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The central atom in IF₅ is sulfur (S). Four fluorine (F) atoms and two boron (B) atoms are bonded to it. The Lewis structure of this molecule shows that there is one lone pair of electrons on the central atom. The molecular geometry can be determined using the VSEPR theory. As there are six groups of electrons around the central atom (four bonding pairs and one lone pair), the molecular geometry is either square pyramidal or octahedral. However, the presence of a lone pair of electrons on the central atom distorts the geometry to become square pyramidal. Therefore, the answer is D.

Give the Number of Lone Pairs Around the Central Atom