
Concept explainers
Give the expected hybridization of the central atom for the molecules or ions in Exercises 81 and 87 from Chapter 3.
(a)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in CCl4.
Answer to Problem 27E
Answer
The given compound is sp3 hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in CCl4 is carbon (C). The electronic configuration of carbon is,
1s22s22p2
The valence electrons in carbon are four.
The formula of number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2
Where,
- X is number of electron pairs.
- V is valence electrons of central atom.
- M is number of monovalent atoms.
- C is charge on compound.
The number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2X=4+42=4
This means that the central atom shows sp3 hybridization and should have a tetrahedral geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the hybridization of the central atom present.
(b)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2 find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in NCl3.
Answer to Problem 27E
Answer
The given compound is sp3 hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in NCl3 is nitrogen (N). The electronic configuration of nitrogen is,
1s22s22p3
The valence electrons in carbon are five.
The formula of number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2
Where,
- X is number of electron pairs.
- V is valence electrons of central atom.
- M is number of monovalent atoms.
- C is charge on compound.
The number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2X=5+32=4
This means that the central atom shows sp3 hybridization and should have a tetrahedral geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the hybridization of the central atom present.
(c)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in SeCl2.
Answer to Problem 27E
The given compound is sp3 hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in SeCl2 is selenium (Se). The electronic configuration of nitrogen is,
1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p4
The valence electrons in selenium are six.
The formula of number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2
Where,
- X is number of electron pairs.
- V is valence electrons of central atom.
- M is number of monovalent atoms.
- C is charge on compound.
The number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2X=6+22=4
This means that the central atom shows sp3 hybridization and should have a tetrahedral geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the hybridization of the central atom present.
(d)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in ICl.
Answer to Problem 27E
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in ICl is Iodine (I). The electronic configuration of iodine is,
1s22s22p63s23p63d104s24p64d104p45s25p5
The valence electrons in selenium are seven.
The formula of number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2
Where,
- X is number of electron pairs.
- V is valence electrons of central atom.
- M is number of monovalent atoms.
- C is charge on compound.
The number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2X=7+12=4
This means that the central atom shows sp3 hybridization and should have a tetrahedral geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the hybridization of the central atom present.
(a-I)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in NO−2.
Answer to Problem 27E
Answer The given compound is sp2 hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in NO−2 is nitrogen (N). The electronic configuration of nitrogen is,
1s22s22p3
The valence electrons in nitrogen are five.
The formula of number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2
Where,
- X is number of electron pairs.
- V is valence electrons of central atom.
- M is number of monovalent atoms.
- C is charge on compound.
The number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2X=5+12=3
This means that the central atom shows sp2 hybridization and should have a triangular planar geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the hybridization of the central atom present.
(a-II)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in NO−3.
Answer to Problem 27E
The given compound is sp2 hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in NO−3 is nitrogen (N). The electronic configuration of nitrogen is,
1s22s22p3
The valence electrons in nitrogen are five.
The formula of number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2
Where,
- X is number of electron pairs.
- V is valence electrons of central atom.
- M is number of monovalent atoms.
- C is charge on compound.
The number of electron pairs is,
X=V+M±C2X=5+12=3
This means that the central atom shows sp2 hybridization and should have a triangular planar geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the hybridization of the central atom present.
(a-III)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in N2O4.
Answer to Problem 27E
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in N2O4 is nitrogen (N). The electronic configuration of nitrogen is,
1s22s22p3
The valence electrons in nitrogen are five.
The structure of this molecule is,
Figure 1
For the nitrogen atom, the number of bonded atoms is two and the number of lone pairs is one. Hence, the steric number for the nitrogen atom (sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present) is 3. This corresponds to the sp2 hybridization.
This means that the central atom shows sp2 hybridization and should have a triangular planar geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the steric number value for the atom. The steric number 3 corresponds to the sp2 hybridization.
(b-I)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in OCN−.
Answer to Problem 27E
Answer The given compound is sp hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in OCN− is carbon (C). The electronic configuration of carbon is,
1s22s22p2
The valence electrons in carbon are four.
The structure of this molecule is,
Figure 2
For the carbon atom, the number of bonded atoms is two and the number of lone pairs is zero. Hence, the steric number for the carbon atom (sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present) is 2. This corresponds to the sp hybridization.
This means that the central atom shows sp hybridization and should have a linear geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the steric number value for the atom. The steric number 2 corresponds to the sp hybridization.
(b-II)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in SCN−.
Answer to Problem 27E
Answer The given compound is sp hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in SCN- is carbon (C). The electronic configuration of carbon is,
1s22s22p2
The valence electrons in carbon are four.
The structure of this molecule is,
Figure 3
For the carbon atom, the number of bonded atoms is two and the number of lone pairs is zero. Hence, the steric number for the carbon atom (sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present) is 2. This corresponds to the sp hybridization.
This means that the central atom shows sp hybridization and should have a linear geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the steric number value for the atom. The steric number 2 corresponds to the sp hybridization.
(b-III)

Interpretation: The expected hybridization of the central atom for the given species is to be determined.
Concept introduction: The following steps are to be followed to determine the hybridization and the molecular structure of a given compound,
- The central atom is identified.
- Its valence electrons are determined.
- 1e− is added to the total number of valence electrons for each monovalent atom present.
- The total number obtained is divided by 2, to find the number of electron pairs.
- This further gives us the hybridization of the given compound.
For an atom, present in the structure of a compound, the sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present on it gives its steric number. The value of the steric number gives us the hybridization of the atom.
To determine: The expected hybridization of the central atom in N−3.
Answer to Problem 27E
Answer The given compound is sp hybridized.
Explanation of Solution
The central atom in N−3 is nitrogen (N). The electronic configuration of nitrogen is,
1s22s22p3
The valence electrons in nitrogen are five.
The structure of this molecule is,
Figure 4
For the central nitrogen atom, the number of bonded atoms is two and the number of lone pairs is zero. Hence, the steric number for the central nitrogen atom (sum of the number of bonded atoms and the number of lone pairs present) is 2. This corresponds to the sp hybridization.
This means that the central atom shows sp hybridization and should have a linear geometry.
The geometry of a given compound can be predicted using the steric number value for the atom. The steric number 2 corresponds to the sp hybridization.
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Chapter 9 Solutions
Bundle: Chemistry, Loose-Leaf Version, 10th + OWLv2, 4 terms (24 months) Printed Access Card
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