Organic compounds consist of carbon bonded to other carbons in chains. Each carbon in the chain acts as its own central atom and the geometry around each atom can be predicted by the VSEPR theory. The organic compound propene (C3H6) is a three-carbon chain with one carbon double bonded to another and a single bond connecting the other carbon. What are the bond angles between the atoms?
Question 1 options:
A) All the bond angles are 109.5°.
B) 1 of the bond angles on carbon are 109.5° and 2 are 120°.
C) All the bond angles are 180°.
D) Half of the bond angles are 120° and half are 180°.
Question 2:
Missy Mae read an article on The Onion which claims the existence of H3O molecule. Explain how she could easily prove this false.
Question 2 options:
A) H3O is able to exist, but it will not be stable. This is an exception to the octet rule.
B) H3O is not able to exist due to the octet rule. It must have a charge that accompanies it.
C) Since there are three hydrogens bonded to the oxygen, this molecule will have bond angles that are strained and therefore it cannot exist.
Question 3:
When comparing the molecular geometries tetrahedral, pyramidal, and bent, all have the same number of electron domains, but the bond angles are all different (109.5, 107.5, and 105 respectively). Explain why this is the case.
Question 3 options:
A) Different atoms exhibit different angles. All types of tetrahedral bonds have four bonded electron pairs around them; the angle changes based on the electronegativity of the central atom.
B) Trigonal pyramidal represents three electron groups around the central atom and tetrahedral represents four electron groups around the central atom which accounts for the slight difference in bond angles.
C) Since each case represents four groups around the central atom, the bond angles differ depending on what type of electrons (bonded or non-bonded) exist within the compound. When four groups of bonded electrons exist, the angle is slightly different than when three groups of bonded electrons and one group of non-bonded electrons exist. Two groups of bonded electrons and two groups of non-bonded electrons also differ slightly in bond angle from either of the previous examples. This has to do with VSEPR theory and enhanced repulsion.