QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
The Lewis structure for PO^43 - is shown. What is the electron-pair geometry around the central atom?
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Answer
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Step 1:
\ce{
The structure can be represented as follows: :O:-P:-O: | | | :O:- :-O: }
Step 2:
To determine the electron-pair geometry around the central atom, we need to count the total number of electron pairs (both bonding and lone) around the central atom. In this case, there are 4 bonding pairs and 3 lone pairs of electrons around the central phosphorus atom.
Step 3:
The electron-pair geometry is determined by the arrangement of these electron pairs in three-dimensional space. For a central atom with 4 electron pairs, the electron-pair geometry is tetrahedral.
Final Answer
The electron-pair geometry around the central phosphorus atom in PO$_4^{3 -}$ is tetrahedral.
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