Discuss the shape of the following molecules using the VSEPR model

Discuss the shape of the following molecules using the VSEPR model: BeCl₂, BCl₃, SiCl₄, AsF₅, H₂S, PH₃

Answer

BeCl₂

The central atom has no lone pair and there are two bond pairs. i.e., BeCl₂ is of the type AB₂. Hence, it has a linear shape.

BCl₃

The central atom has no lone pair and there are three bond pairs. Hence, it is of the type AB₃. Hence, it is trigonal planar.

SiCl₄

The central atom has no lone pair and there are four bond pairs. Hence, the shape of SiCl₄ is tetrahedral being the AB₄ type molecule.

AsF₅

The central atom has no lone pair and there are five bond pairs. Hence, AsF₅ is of the type AB₅. Therefore, the shape is trigonal bipyramidal.

H₂S

The central atom has one lone pair and there are two bond pairs. Hence, H₂S is of the type AB₂E. The shape is Bent.

PH₃

The central atom has one lone pair and there are three bond pairs. Hence, PH₃ is of the AB₃E type. Therefore, the shape is trigonal bipyramidal.