Question

The next step in VSEPR is to count the number of "electron clouds" around the central atom. How many "electron clouds" are surrounding the central atom of BeCl2?

Answer 1

BeCl2 has 2 electron clouds surrounding the central beryllium (Be) atom, resulting in a linear molecular geometry.

Step-by-step explanation:

The next step in VSEPR theory is to count the number of electron clouds around the central atom. In the case of BeCl2, Beryllium (Be) is the central atom. BeCl2 has 2 electron clouds surrounding the central atom. This is because it has 2 chlorine (Cl) atoms bonded to the central beryllium atom, with no lone pairs of electrons. The molecular geometry of BeCl2 is linear.