Discuss the orbital shapes of the following covalent molecules: (i) HF (ii) H2O (iii) NH3.
(i) Hydrogen fluoride molecule (HF): The electronic configuration of hydrogen is 1s1. Electronic configuration of Fluorine is 1s2 2s2 2p5. Therefore half-filled orbital of hydrogen atom overlaps with the half filled 2p-orbital of fluorine atom to form H – F molecule. (ii) A water molecule (H2O): The electronic configuration of hydrogen is 1s1. Electronic configuration of oxygen 1s2 2s2 2p4. Therefore half-filled orbital of each hydrogen atom overlaps with each of the half-filled 2p–orbitals having electrons in opposite spins of oxygen atom to form H2O molecule.
(iii) Ammonia molecule (NH3): The electronic configuration of hydrogen is 1s1. Electronic configuration of nitrogen is 1s2 2s2 2p3. Therefore the orbital of each hydrogen atom overlaps with each of the three nitrogen orbitals.
half-filled 2p orbitals of nitrogen having electrons in opposite spin to form NH3molecule.
163 Views
Advertisement
Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
Hope you found this question and answer to be good. Find many more questions on Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure with answers for your assignments and practice.
Chemistry Part I
Browse through more topics from Chemistry Part I for questions and snapshot.
