Question

For molecules with trigonal bipyramidal electron domain geometry, which of the following is not a correct choice for its potential molecular geometry?

1) T-shaped
2) Square pyramidal
3) Square planar
4) Trigonal planar

Answer 1

Square pyramidal is not a correct molecular geometry for a molecule with trigonal bipyramidal electron domain geometry, as square pyramidal is associated with octahedral electron domain geometry.

Step-by-step explanation:

For molecules with trigonal bipyramidal electron domain geometry, the potential molecular geometries include seesaw, T-shaped, and linear, depending on the number of lone pairs on the central atom. However, square pyramidal and square planar are not correct choices for a molecule with trigonal bipyramidal electron domain geometry. These two geometries are associated with octahedral electron domain geometry, not trigonal bipyramidal.

Molecules such as PCl5 with no lone pairs on the central atom exhibit the trigonal bipyramidal molecular geometry. The arrangement that minimizes repulsions places lone pairs in equatorial positions in a trigonal bipyramidal structure. Therefore, the molecular geometry that is not correct for trigonal bipyramidal electron domain geometry is square pyramidal.