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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2025 · 2 Apr · Shift 1 · Q8
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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2025 · 2 Apr · Shift 1 · Q8

JEE MainChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureMCQ+4 / −1
A molecule with the formula AX4Y\mathrm{AX}_4 \mathrm{Y}AX4​Y has all it's elements from p-block. Element A is rarest, monoatomic, non-radioactive from its group and has the lowest ionization enthalpy value among A,X\mathrm{A}, \mathrm{X}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:
  1. A
    Pentagonal planar
  2. B
    Square pyramidal
  3. C
    Trigonal bipyramidal
  4. D
    Octahedral
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: B

  1. Identify the elements from the clues

    We are given a molecule of type AX4YAX_4YAX4​Y, and all elements belong to the p-block.

    • Element XXX has the highest electronegativity among all known elements.

      Therefore, X=FX = \mathrm{F}X=F.

    • Element YYY has the second highest electronegativity among all known elements.

      Therefore, Y=OY = \mathrm{O}Y=O.

    • Element AAA is:

      • rarest,
      • monoatomic,
      • non-radioactive from its group,
      • and has the lowest ionization enthalpy among A,X,YA, X, YA,X,Y.

      The p-block element fitting “rarest, monoatomic, non-radioactive from its group” is xenon, Xe\mathrm{Xe}Xe, from group 18.

    Hence the molecule is: XeF4O\mathrm{XeF_4O}XeF4​O which is commonly written as XeOF4\mathrm{XeOF_4}XeOF4​.

  2. Determine the central atom electron count

    Central atom: Xe\mathrm{Xe}Xe

    Valence electrons on Xe = 888.

    In XeOF4\mathrm{XeOF_4}XeOF4​:

    • Xe forms 4 bonds with F
    • Xe forms 1 bond with O (effectively a multiple bond in resonance description, but for VSEPR it counts as one electron domain)

    Thus total bonded atoms around Xe = 555.

  3. Count electron domains using VSEPR

    For XeOF4\mathrm{XeOF_4}XeOF4​, xenon has:

    • 555 bond pairs (4 Xe–F and 1 Xe–O domain)
    • 111 lone pair

    So steric number = 5+1=65 + 1 = 65+1=6

    Electron-pair geometry is therefore octahedral.

  4. Determine the molecular shape

    With steric number 666 and one lone pair, the molecular shape is obtained from octahedral geometry by removing one position for the lone pair.

    This gives the shape: square pyramidal\boxed{\text{square pyramidal}}square pyramidal​

    In XeOF4\mathrm{XeOF_4}XeOF4​, the lone pair and the Xe=O\mathrm{Xe=O}Xe=O domain prefer opposite positions, leaving four F atoms in one square plane and O at the apex.

  5. Check options

    • A: Pentagonal planar →\to→ incorrect
    • B: Square pyramidal →\to→ correct
    • C: Trigonal bipyramidal →\to→ incorrect
    • D: Octahedral →\to→ electron-pair geometry, not molecular shape

Therefore, the correct option is: B: Square pyramidal\boxed{\text{B: Square pyramidal}}B: Square pyramidal​

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