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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure appeared 42 times across 3 years — 4.9% of Chemistry. This question is from Molecular Geometry and VSEPR.

Year 2026 2025 2024 Total
Questions 12 14 16 42

The molecules having square pyramidal geometry are

Solution & Explanation

Core Logic

Let us check the steric details using VSEPR theory:

  • BrF₅: Bromine has 7 valence electrons. It forms 5 single bonds with Fluorine and retains 1 lone pair. Steric number = 6 (sp³d²), geometry is square pyramidal.
  • XeOF₄: Xenon has 8 valence electrons. It forms 1 double bond with Oxygen, 4 single bonds with Fluorine, and retains 1 lone pair. Steric number = 6 (sp³d²), geometry is square pyramidal.
  • SbF₅ & PCl₅: Central element has 5 valence electrons, forming 5 bonds with no lone pairs. Steric number = 5 (sp³d), geometry is trigonal bipyramidal.
  • Visual representations of geometries:

    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning
    Geometry structure diagram 1 for Q35 - JEE Main 2025 Morning

Pattern Recognition

Sees: Steric count 6 with 5 bonded segments + 1 lone pair arrow always square pyramidal geometry.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Reference Study Guides

More Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Previous-Year Questions — Page 3

Q60 jee_main_2026_28_january_morning Bond Lengths and Bond Orders
Given below are two statements: Statement I: The number of species among BF₄⁻, SiF₄, XeF₄ and SF₄, that have unequal E-F bond lengths is two. Here, E is the central atom. Statement II: Among O₂⁻, O₂²⁻, F₂ and O₂⁺, O₂⁻ has the highest bond order. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below
  • A. Both Statement I and Statement II are false
  • B. Both Statement I and Statement II are true
  • C. Statement I is true but Statement II is false
  • D. Statement I is false but Statement II is true

Solution

Step 1: Evaluate Statement I

BF₄⁻ (Tetrahedral, all bonds identical)\nSiF₄ (Tetrahedral, all bonds identical)\nXeF₄ (Square planar, all bonds identical)\nSF₄ (See-saw geometry, axial and equatorial bond lengths are unequal).\nThus, only ONE species (SF₄) has unequal bond lengths. Statement I is false.

Step 2: Evaluate Statement II

Using MOT to find bond orders (B.O.):\nO₂⁺: B.O. = 2.5\nO₂⁻: B.O. = 1.5\nO₂²⁻: B.O. = 1\nF₂: B.O. = 1\nThe species with the highest bond order is O₂⁺ (2.5), not O₂⁻. Statement II is false.

Final Conclusion

Both statements are false.

Pattern Recognition

Axial bonds are structurally longer than equatorial bonds in trigonal bipyramidal derivatives (like see-saw SF₄). Bond order maps predictably: 14e^- = 3.0, stepping down 0.5 per electron added or removed.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q62 jee_main_2026_28_january_evening VSEPR Theory And Molecular Geometry
Match List-I with List-II according to shape.
List-IList-II
(A) XeO₃(I) BrF₅
(B) XeF₂(II) NH₃
(C) XeO₂F₂(III) [I₃]⁻
(D) XeOF₄(IV) SF₄
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
  • A. (1) A-II, B-I, C-III, D-IV
  • B. (2) A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I
  • C. (3) A-II, B-III, C-I, D-IV
  • D. (4) A-III, B-II, C-IV, D-I

Solution

Core Logic

Evaluate steric number (SN) = Bond Pairs (BP) + Lone Pairs (LP): (A) XeO₃: 3 BP, 1 LP arrow Pyramidal geometry. Matches NH₃ (3 BP, 1 LP). (B) XeF₂: 2 BP, 3 LP arrow Linear geometry. Matches [I₃]^- (2 BP, 3 LP). (C) XeO₂F₂: 4 BP, 1 LP arrow See-saw geometry. Matches SF₄ (4 BP, 1 LP). (D) XeOF₄: 5 BP, 1 LP arrow Square pyramidal geometry. Matches BrF₅ (5 BP, 1 LP).

Step 1: Final Conclusion

Matching pairs: A-II, B-III, C-IV, D-I.

Pattern Recognition

VSEPR iso-structural matching. Always count valence electrons of central atom minus bonds to find lone pairs. 4 domains with 1 LP = See-saw. 5 domains with 3 LP = Linear. 4 domains with 1 LP (sp3) = Pyramidal.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Class 12 Chemistry: The p-Block Elements

Q jee_main_2025_02_april_evening VSEPR Theory and Hybridization
Which among the following molecules is (a) involved in sp³d hybridization, (b) has different bond lengths and (c) has lone pair of electrons on the central atom?
  • A. PF₅
  • B. XeF₄
  • C. SF₄
  • D. XeF₂

Solution

Related Formula
Steric Number = (1)/(2) ( V + M - C + A )

where, V = valence electrons of central atom M = number of monovalent surrounding atoms C = cationic charge, A = anionic charge

Core Logic

Let's calculate the hybridization, shape, and lone pairs for each option:

  • PF₅:
    VSEPR Theory and Hybridization
    VSEPR Theory and Hybridization
  • Central atom: Phosphorus (V=5).
  • Steric Number = (1)/(2)(5 + 5) = 5 sp³d hybridization.
  • Lone pairs = 5 - 5 = 0.
  • Geometry: Trigonal bipyramidal. It has different axial and equatorial bond lengths, but no lone pair on the central atom.
  • XeF₄:
  • Central atom: Xenon (V=8).
  • Steric Number = (1)/(2)(8 + 4) = 6 sp³d² hybridization (fails condition a).
  • SF₄:
    VSEPR Theory and Hybridization
    VSEPR Theory and Hybridization
  • Central atom: Sulfur (V=6).
  • Steric Number = (1)/(2)(6 + 4) = 5 sp³d hybridization.
  • Lone pairs = 5 - 4 = 1 lone pair on sulfur.
  • Shape: See-saw. It contains axial and equatorial bonds which have distinct lengths (1.64~ A vs 1.54~ A due to lone pair-bond pair repulsion). This satisfies all three conditions.
  • XeF₂:
  • Central atom: Xenon (V=8).
  • Steric Number = (1)/(2)(8 + 2) = 5 sp³d hybridization.
  • Lone pairs = 5 - 2 = 3 lone pairs on Xe.
  • Shape: Linear. Both Xe-F bonds are identical in length (fails condition b).
  • VSEPR Theory and Hybridization
    VSEPR Theory and Hybridization

Step 1: Conclusion

Hence, only SF₄ satisfies all the given parameters.

Pattern Recognition

For any trigonal bipyramidal molecular geometry (steric number 5), the axial bonds suffer more repulsion (from 3 equatorial bonds at 90^°) than the equatorial bonds (which have only 2 axial neighbors at 90^°). Consequently, the axial bonds are always longer and weaker than equatorial bonds.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q jee_main_2025_02_april_morning Interhalogen Molecular Geometry
A molecule with the formula AX₄Y has all its elements from p-block. Element A is rarest, monoatomic, non-radioactive from its group and has the lowest ionization enthalpy value among A, X and Y. Elements X and Y have first and second highest electronegativity values respectively among all the known elements. The shape of the molecule is :
  • A. (1) Square pyramidal
  • B. (2) Octahedral
  • C. (3) Pentagonal planar
  • D. (4) Trigonal bipyramidal

Solution

Related Formula

Total valence shell electron pair system equation:

Valence Pairs = Bond Pairs (BP) + Lone Pairs (LP)
Core Logic

Let's decode individual identities based on the descriptive properties:

  • The elements with the first and second highest electronegativity values across the entire periodic table are Fluorine (F) and Oxygen (O), matching labels X and Y.
  • Element A is a rare, monoatomic, non-radioactive p-block element with low ionization energy, identifying it as Xenon (Xe).
  • Substituting these components into the target layout formula yields XeOF₄:
  • Xenon brings 8 valence electrons. It forms 4 single bonds with F and 1 double bond with O, consuming 6 electrons and leaving 1 lone pair on the central atom.
  • Steric Number = 5 bond regions + 1 lone pair = 6 (Octahedral electronic arrangement).
Step 1: Geometry Determination

Placing the double-bonded oxygen and lone pair along vertical spatial axes yields a stable square pyramidal molecular shape layout:

XeOF4 square pyramidal spatial geometry diagram for Q45
XeOF4 square pyramidal spatial geometry diagram for Q45

Pattern Recognition

In sp³d² architectures containing an explicit lone pair along with an asymmetric double bond (like XeOF₄), the lone pair always sits directly opposite the double bond to minimize electron repulsion, leaving a clean square pyramidal shape.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Class 12 Chemistry: The p-Block Elements

Q35 jee_main_2025_02_april_morning VSEPR and Dipole Moments
Among SO₂, NF₃, NH₃, XeF₂, ClF₃ and SF₄, the hybridization of the molecule with non-zero dipole moment and highest number of lone-pairs of electrons on the central atom is
  • A. (1) sp³
  • B. (2) dsp²
  • C. (3) sp³d²
  • D. (4) sp³d

Solution

Related Formula

Steric Number system equation for identifying electronic configurations:

Steric Number (SN) = (1)/(2)[V + M - C + A]
Core Logic

Let's list parameters using a detailed structural grid:

MoleculeHybridisationDipole MomentLone pair on the central atom
SO₂sp²Non-zero1
NF₃sp³Non-zero1
NH₃sp³Non-zero1
XeF₂sp³dZero3
ClF₃sp³dNon-zero2
SF₄sp³dNon-zero1

Comparing items: XeF₂ has 3 lone pairs but its linear architecture enforces μ = 0. Therefore, ClF₃ has the highest count of lone pairs (2) with a net non-zero asymmetric dipole configuration.

Step 1: Selection

The hybridization of ClF₃ is sp³d.

Pattern Recognition

Watch out for symmetry traps! XeF₂ contains the absolute maximum lone pairs, but its symmetric planar positioning perfectly cancels out the dipole vectors. Thus, the correct candidate slips down to ClF₃.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

More Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Questions — jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning

Practice all Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure previous-year questions →

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