QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
"Determine the electron geometry (eg) and molecular geometry (mg) of CO^32−.
A. eg = tetrahedral, mg = trigonal planar
B. eg = tetrahedral, mg = tetrahedral
C. eg = tetrahedral, mg = trigonal pyramidal
D. eg = trigonal planar, mg = trigonal planar
E. eg = trigonal planar, mg = bent"
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Answer
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Step 1:Let's solve this step by step:
Step 2:: Determine the Lewis structure of CO^3²⁻
- Carbon (C) is the central atom - Oxygen atoms are bonded to carbon - Total valence electrons: 4 (C) + (3 × 6) (O) + 2 (charge) = 24 electrons - The structure involves resonance with three equivalent oxygen structures
Step 3:: Count electron domains around the central carbon
- Each single/double bond counts as one electron domain - The structure has three electron domains (three resonance structures with double bonds) - These three electron domains are arranged in a trigonal planar geometry
Step 4:: Determine electron geometry (eg)
- With three electron domains, the electron geometry is trigonal planar - This eliminates options B, C, and E
Step 5:: Determine molecular geometry (mg)
- All three domains are bonding domains (no lone pairs) - This means the molecular geometry matches the electron geometry - The molecular geometry is trigonal planar
Step 6:: Analyze the remaining options
\text{mg} = \text{trigonal planar}
- Option A has tetrahedral electron geometry (incorrect) - Option D matches our analysis:
Final Answer
D. eg = trigonal planar, mg = trigonal planar
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