Question

determine the correct molecular geometry based on the number of bonds and lone pairs around the central atom.

• bent
• tetrahedral
• trigonal planar
• trigonal pyramidal

bonds lone pairs geometry
2 2 click for list bent
3 0 tetrahedral trigonal planar
3 1 trigonal pyramidal
4 0 click for list

Explanation:

Step1: Recall VSEPR rules

The valence - shell electron - pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory is used to predict molecular geometries based on the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs around the central atom.

Step2: Analyze case of 2 bonds and 2 lone pairs

When there are 2 bonds and 2 lone pairs around the central atom, the electron - pair geometry is tetrahedral, but the molecular geometry is bent due to the repulsion of the lone pairs.

Step3: Analyze case of 3 bonds and 0 lone pairs

When there are 3 bonds and 0 lone pairs around the central atom, the electron - pair geometry and molecular geometry are trigonal planar as the electron groups are arranged to minimize repulsion in a plane with 120 - degree bond angles.

Step4: Analyze case of 3 bonds and 1 lone pair

When there are 3 bonds and 1 lone pair around the central atom, the electron - pair geometry is tetrahedral, but the molecular geometry is trigonal pyramidal because the lone pair occupies more space and repels the bonding pairs.

Step5: Analyze case of 4 bonds and 0 lone pairs

When there are 4 bonds and 0 lone pairs around the central atom, the electron - pair geometry and molecular geometry are tetrahedral with bond angles of approximately 109.5 degrees.

Answer:

Bonds	Lone pairs	Geometry
3	0	Trigonal planar
3	1	Trigonal pyramidal
4	0	Tetrahedral