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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 6

Q43 jee_main_2025_24_jan_morning Hybridization and Molecular Geometry
Which of the following statement is true with respect to H₂O, NH₃ and CH₄ ? A. The central atoms of all the molecules are sp³ hybridized. B. The H-O-H, H-N-H and H-C-H angles in the above molecules are 104.5° , 107.5° and 109.5° respectively. C. The increasing order of dipole moment is CH₄ < NH₃ < H₂O . D. Both H₂O and NH₃ are Lewis acids and CH₄ is a Lewis base E. A solution of NH₃ in H₂O is basic. In this solution NH₃ and H₂O act as Lowry-Bronsted acid and base respectively. Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
  • A. A, B and C only
  • B. C, D and E only
  • C. A, D and E only
  • D. A, B, C and E only

Solution

Core Logic

Analyzing each statement individually:

  • Statement A is true: The central atoms (O, N, C) all possess an electron steric number equal to 4, indicating sp³ hybridization state pathways.
  • Statement B is true: Due to valence shell electron pair repulsions, the bond angles decrease from the ideal tetrahedral angle (109.5° in CH₄,
    Water molecule structural bond configuration shape representation
    Water molecule structural bond configuration shape representation
    ) as lone pairs are added (107.5° in NH₃ with 1 lone pair,
    Water molecule structural bond configuration shape representation
    Water molecule structural bond configuration shape representation
    ; 104.5° in H₂O with 2 lone pairs,
    Water molecule structural bond configuration shape representation
    Water molecule structural bond configuration shape representation
    ).
  • Statement C is true: The dipole moment increases alongside central atom electronegativity and asymmetric lone pair configurations, following the sequence CH₄ (0 D) < NH₃ (1.47 D) < H₂O (1.85 D).
Pattern Recognition

Lone pairs repel bonding electron pairs more strongly than bonding pairs repel each other, systematically compressing adjacent bond angles.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q74 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning Ionic Character
Arrange the bonds in order of increasing ionic character in the molecules. LiF, K₂O, N₂, SO₂ and ClF₃.
  • A. ClF₃ < N₂ < SO₂ < K₂O < LiF
  • B. LiF < K₂O < ClF₃ < SO₂ < N₂
  • C. N₂ < SO₂ < ClF₃ < K₂O < LiF
  • D. N₂ < ClF₃ < SO₂ < K₂O < LiF

Solution

Core Logic

The ionic character of a bond is directly proportional to the electronegativity difference (Δ EN) between the two bonded atoms. Larger Δ EN higher ionic character.

Step 1: Assess Electronegativity Differences
  • N₂: Both atoms are Nitrogen. Δ EN = 0. Purely covalent. (Lowest ionic character)
  • SO₂: Bond between S and O. Moderate Δ EN. Covalent with some polarity.
  • ClF₃: Bond between Cl and F. Δ EN is higher than S-O as F is the most electronegative element.
  • K₂O: Bond between K (alkali metal, very low EN) and O. Very high Δ EN. Ionic.
  • LiF: Bond between Li (alkali metal) and F (highest EN). Maximum Δ EN possible among these options. Most ionic.
Step 2: Order Derivation

Increasing order of ionic character (or Δ EN): N₂ < SO₂ < ClF₃ < K₂O < LiF

Pattern Recognition

Homodiatomic (N₂) is always 0% ionic. Alkali metal + Halogen (LiF) represents the extreme of the ionic spectrum. Sorting non-metals by group distance yields the middle ranks.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q85 jee_main_2024_01_february_morning VSEPR Theory
The number of molecules/ion/s having trigonal bipyramidal shape is .... PF₅, BrF₅, PCl₅, [PtCl₄]²⁻, BF₃, Fe(CO)₅
Numerical Answer. Answer: 3 to 3

Solution

Core Logic

Using VSEPR theory to find the hybridization and shape:

  • PF₅: P has 5 valence electrons, forms 5 single bonds with F. Steric number = 5 (sp3d). 0 lone pairs. Shape = Trigonal bipyramidal.
  • BrF₅: Br has 7 valence electrons, forms 5 single bonds, 1 lone pair. Steric number = 6 (sp3d2). Shape = Square pyramidal.
  • PCl₅: P has 5 valence electrons, 5 bonds, 0 lone pairs. Steric number = 5 (sp3d). Shape = Trigonal bipyramidal.
  • [PtCl₄]²⁻: Pt²⁺ is a d⁸ system. With Cl^- (but 4d/5d transition metals always form low spin square planar complexes), it's dsp² hybridized. Shape = Square planar.
  • BF₃: B has 3 valence electrons, 3 bonds, 0 lone pairs. Steric number = 3 (sp2). Shape = Trigonal planar.
  • Fe(CO)₅: Fe (d6s2 -> d8 under strong field CO). Carbonyls strongly prefer 5-coordinate trigonal bipyramidal geometry for d⁸ (dsp³ hybridization). Shape = Trigonal bipyramidal.
Step 1: Count Trigonal Bipyramidal Molecules

Molecules with trigonal bipyramidal shape:

  • PF₅
  • PCl₅
  • Fe(CO)₅
  • Total count = 3.

Pattern Recognition

Steric Number = 5 with 0 lone pairs ALWAYS yields Trigonal Bipyramidal geometry. Watch out for BrF₅ which has 5 bonds but 1 lone pair (SN = 6, Square Pyramidal).

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Class 12 Chemistry: Coordination Compounds

Q jee_main_2024_29_january_evening Molecular Orbital Theory
The total number of anti bonding molecular orbitals, formed from 2s and 2p atomic orbitals in a diatomic molecule is ________.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 4 to 4

Solution

Related Formula
Total Atomic Orbitals Combinations = Bonding MOs + Antibonding MOs
Core Logic

When atomic orbitals combine, they form an equal number of molecular orbitals:

  • Two 2s atomic orbitals combine to form 1 bonding orbital (σ₂ₛ) and 1 antibonding orbital (σ^*₂ₛ).
  • Six 2p atomic orbitals combine to form 3 bonding orbitals (σ2pz, π2pₓ, π2py) and 3 antibonding orbitals (σ^2pz, π^2pₓ, π^*2py).
Step 1: Total Summation

Summing the antibonding orbitals from both subshells:

Total Antibonding Molecular Orbitals = 1 (from 2s) + 3 (from 2p) = 4
Pattern Recognition

The linear combination of N atomic orbitals always yields exactly (N)/(2) antibonding molecular orbitals.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Q jee_main_2024_29_january_evening Dipole Moment
The total number of molecules with zero dipole moment among CH₄, BF₃, H₂O, HF, NH₃, CO₂, and SO₂ is ________.
Numerical Answer. Answer: 3 to 3

Solution

Related Formula
μₙₑₜ = Σ μᵢ = 0 (For perfectly symmetrical geometry configurations)
Core Logic

Analyze the molecular geometry and symmetry of each molecule:

  • CH₄: Symmetrical tetrahedral geometry μ = 0.
  • BF₃: Symmetrical trigonal planar geometry μ = 0.
  • H₂O: Bent shape due to lone pairs μ ≠ 0.
  • HF: Linear asymmetric diatomic molecule μ ≠ 0.
  • NH₃: Trigonal pyramidal shape due to a lone pair μ ≠ 0.
  • CO₂: Symmetrical linear structure (O=C=O) where dipoles cancel out μ = 0.
  • SO₂: Bent angular geometry due to a lone pair μ ≠ 0.
Step 1: Final Counting

The molecules with a net zero dipole moment are CH₄, BF₃, and CO₂. This gives a total count of 3.

Pattern Recognition

Molecules with a symmetrical arrangement of identical bonds and no lone pairs on the central atom (e.g., tetrahedral CH₄, trigonal planar BF₃, linear CO₂) always have a net dipole moment of zero.

Chapter Mix

Class 11 Chemistry: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

More Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure Questions — jee_main_2025_28_jan_morning

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