Question

a molecule with five electron pairs (single bonds and/or lone pairs) around the central atom could have which of the following molecular geometries?
i. trigonal bipyramidal
ii. seesaw
iii. t - shaped
iv. linear
i and iv only
i and ii only
ii and iii only
i, ii, iii and iv
iii and iv only

Explanation:

When a molecule has five electron - pairs (bonding and/or lone pairs) around the central atom, different molecular geometries are possible depending on the number of bonding and lone pairs. For 5 bonding pairs and 0 lone pairs, the geometry is trigonal bipyramidal. When there are 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair, it is seesaw. With 3 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs, it is T - shaped. And for 2 bonding pairs and 3 lone pairs, it is linear.

Answer:

I. Trigonal bipyramidal, II. Seesaw, III. T - Shaped, IV. Linear