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NEET Chemistry · Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

VSEPR theory and shapes of molecules

Taught in NCERT Class 11 Chemistry, Chapter 4: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure.

3 verified questions: Easy 0 · Medium 2 · NEET level 1

Sample questions

Sample 1Medium

A molecule AB4 is sketched with its central atom A surrounded by five electron pairs pointing to the corners of a trigonal bipyramid: four are bond pairs to B atoms and one is a lone pair occupying an equatorial position. Which molecule has this arrangement, and what is its shape?

  1. A

    CH4, tetrahedral

  2. B

    ClF3, T-shaped

  3. C

    SF4, see-saw

  4. D

    XeF4, square planar

Show the answer
The answer is C.

Four bond pairs and one lone pair (AB4E) give a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement of electron pairs. With the lone pair equatorial, the atoms form a see-saw shape, as in SF4.

  • A.

    CH4 has four bond pairs and no lone pair on carbon.

  • B.

    ClF3 has three bond pairs and two lone pairs, so it is AB3, not AB4.

  • D.

    XeF4 has six electron pairs (four bond pairs and two lone pairs) around Xe, not five.

NCERT: Class 11 Chemistry, Chapter 4

Sample 2NEET level

Match the molecules in List I with their shapes in List II. List I: A. SF4 B. ClF3 C. XeF4 D. BrF5 List II: I. Square pyramidal II. T-shape III. See-saw IV. Square planar

  1. A

    A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV

  2. B

    A-III, B-II, C-I, D-IV

  3. C

    A-IV, B-II, C-III, D-I

  4. D

    A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I

Show the answer
The answer is D.

SF4 (four bond pairs, one lone pair) is see-saw and ClF3 (three bond pairs, two lone pairs) is T-shaped. XeF4 (four bond pairs, two lone pairs) is square planar and BrF5 (five bond pairs, one lone pair) is square pyramidal.

  • A.

    Swaps SF4 and ClF3, and swaps XeF4 and BrF5.

  • B.

    Swaps XeF4 (square planar) and BrF5 (square pyramidal).

  • C.

    SF4 is see-saw, not square planar, and XeF4 is not see-saw.

NCERT: Class 11 Chemistry, Unit 4 (Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure), The Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory

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