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JEE Advanced 2020 Paper 1 · Chemistry · Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure · medium

(s) about the shapes of molecules and ions is/are correct?

One or more options correct

Which of the following statement(s) about the shapes of molecules and ions is/are correct?
  1. A. ICl4−\mathrm{ICl_4^-} and XeF4\mathrm{XeF_4} both have two lone pairs on the central atom and both are square planar
  2. B. In BrF3\mathrm{BrF_3} the F−Br−F\mathrm{F{-}Br{-}F} angle between the axial fluorine atoms and the equatorial one is exactly 90∘90^\circ
  3. C. XeF2\mathrm{XeF_2} and I3−\mathrm{I_3^-} are both linear, with three lone pairs on the central atom
  4. D. XeO3\mathrm{XeO_3} and ClO3−\mathrm{ClO_3^-} are both trigonal pyramidal with one lone pair on the central atom
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Answer: A, C, D

Use VSEPR with the count of valence electrons on the central atom. (A) is correct: ICl4−\mathrm{ICl_4^-} has 7+1=87+1=8 valence electrons on iodine, four used in bonds, leaving two lone pairs, and the six electron pairs are octahedral with the lone pairs trans, giving a square planar ion; XeF4\mathrm{XeF_4} is the same. (B) is incorrect: BrF3\mathrm{BrF_3} is T-shaped with two lone pairs in the equatorial positions, and these push the axial fluorines slightly toward the equatorial fluorine, so the angle is about 86∘86^\circ, not exactly 90∘90^\circ. (C) is correct: in both XeF2\mathrm{XeF_2} and I3−\mathrm{I_3^-} the central atom has five electron pairs, three lone pairs occupy the equatorial plane of the trigonal bipyramid, and the atoms are collinear. (D) is correct: xenon in XeO3\mathrm{XeO_3} and chlorine in ClO3−\mathrm{ClO_3^-} each carry three bonded oxygens and one lone pair, so both are pyramidal.
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