Question

what is the bond angle for scl₆? options: 109.5, 104.5, 90, 107, 120; image of molecular structure (central atom with six surrounding atoms, likely octahedral)

Explanation:

Step1: Determine the molecular geometry of \( \text{SCl}_6 \)

Sulfur (S) is in group 16, and chlorine (Cl) is in group 17. The central sulfur atom in \( \text{SCl}_6 \) has 6 valence electrons, and each chlorine atom contributes 1 valence electron. So the total number of valence electrons around S is \( 6 + 6\times1 = 12 \), which means there are 6 bonding pairs (since each S - Cl bond is a single bond) and no lone pairs. The molecular geometry for a central atom with 6 bonding pairs and no lone pairs is octahedral.

Step2: Recall the bond angle for octahedral geometry

In an octahedral molecular geometry, the bond angles between adjacent bonding pairs (the angle between two S - Cl bonds that are adjacent) is \( 90^\circ \). The other bond angle (between bonds that are opposite in a square - planar - like arrangement within the octahedron) is \( 180^\circ \), but among the given options, \( 90^\circ \) is the bond angle for the adjacent bonds in the octahedral structure of \( \text{SCl}_6 \).

Answer:

90 (corresponding to the option with value 90)