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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2025 · 28 Jan · Shift 1 · Q19
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Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure question

2025 · 28 Jan · Shift 1 · Q19

JEE MainChemistryChemical Bonding and Molecular StructureMCQ+4 / −1
The molecules having square pyramidal geometry are
  1. A
    BrF5 & PCl5\mathrm{BrF}_5 ~\&~ \mathrm{PCl}_5BrF5​ & PCl5​
  2. B
    SbF5 & PCl5\mathrm{SbF}_5 ~\&~ \mathrm{PCl}_5SbF5​ & PCl5​
  3. C
    BrF5 & XeOF4\mathrm{BrF}_5 ~\&~ \mathrm{XeOF}_4BrF5​ & XeOF4​
  4. D
    SbF5 & XeOF4\mathrm{SbF}_5 ~\&~ \mathrm{XeOF}_4SbF5​ & XeOF4​
View written solutionFree

Correct answer: C

  1. Recall the shape corresponding to square pyramidal geometry

A molecule is square pyramidal when the electron-pair arrangement is octahedral with one position occupied by a lone pair, i.e. type:

AX5EAX_5EAX5​E

This gives a molecular shape of square pyramidal.


  1. Check each molecule

(i) BrF5\mathrm{BrF}_5BrF5​

  • Central atom: Br\mathrm{Br}Br
  • Valence electrons on Br = 7
  • It forms 5 bonds with F, leaving 1 lone pair.

So steric number = 6:

AX5EAX_5EAX5​E

Hence, shape = square pyramidal.


(ii) PCl5\mathrm{PCl}_5PCl5​

  • Central atom: P\mathrm{P}P
  • Valence electrons on P = 5
  • It forms 5 bonds and has no lone pair.

So steric number = 5:

AX5AX_5AX5​

Hence, shape = trigonal bipyramidal, not square pyramidal.


(iii) SbF5\mathrm{SbF}_5SbF5​

  • Central atom: Sb\mathrm{Sb}Sb
  • Valence electrons on Sb = 5
  • It forms 5 bonds and has no lone pair.

So:

AX5AX_5AX5​

Hence, shape = trigonal bipyramidal, not square pyramidal.


(iv) XeOF4\mathrm{XeOF}_4XeOF4​

  • Central atom: Xe
  • Xe has 8 valence electrons.
  • Around Xe: 4 Xe–F bonds + 1 Xe=O bond + 1 lone pair.

In VSEPR, the double bond to O counts as one electron domain. So total electron domains = 6:

AX5EAX_5EAX5​E

Hence, electron-pair geometry = octahedral and molecular shape = square pyramidal.


  1. Evaluate options
  • A: BrF5\mathrm{BrF}_5BrF5​ and PCl5\mathrm{PCl}_5PCl5​
    BrF5\mathrm{BrF}_5BrF5​ is square pyramidal, but PCl5\mathrm{PCl}_5PCl5​ is not. ❌

  • B: SbF5\mathrm{SbF}_5SbF5​ and PCl5\mathrm{PCl}_5PCl5​
    Neither is square pyramidal. ❌

  • C: BrF5\mathrm{BrF}_5BrF5​ and XeOF4\mathrm{XeOF}_4XeOF4​
    Both are square pyramidal. ✅

  • D: SbF5\mathrm{SbF}_5SbF5​ and XeOF4\mathrm{XeOF}_4XeOF4​
    SbF5\mathrm{SbF}_5SbF5​ is not square pyramidal. ❌


  1. Final answer

The molecules having square pyramidal geometry are:

BrF5 and XeOF4\boxed{\mathrm{BrF}_5 \text{ and } \mathrm{XeOF}_4}BrF5​ and XeOF4​​

So, the correct option is:

C\boxed{C}C​

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