what is the molecular geometry of trans-difluroethylene: trans-C2H2F2?
i want to say it is a tetrahedral because it has four atoms and no lone pairs, but im not sure.
It looks to me like it has 6 atoms.
You might find the answer here:
http://books.google.com/books?id=FZEI7VmjNyMC&pg=PA40&lpg=PA40&dq=C2H2F2+structure&source=web&ots=uWcVc_FbaK&sig=005nNlOIG_29E6PFASdSM0xU_bo&hl=en
It does not look tetrahedral.
Our chief chemistry expert will be back in about a week. I am sorry the rest of us cannot answer some of your chemistry questions while he is away.
The molecular geometry of trans-difluoroethylene, trans-C2H2F2, is actually not tetrahedral. To determine the molecular geometry, we need to first identify the Lewis structure of the molecule.
The Lewis structure for trans-difluoroethylene is as follows:
F F
\ /
C = C
In this structure, the two carbon atoms are connected by a double bond, and each carbon atom is bonded to a fluorine atom. To determine the molecular geometry, we need to consider the positions of the atoms around the central carbon atoms and any lone pairs of electrons.
The central carbon atom in trans-difluoroethylene has two bonding pairs of electrons and no lone pairs. Therefore, the molecular geometry is linear. The two fluorine atoms are located at opposite ends of the carbon-carbon double bond.
So, in conclusion, the molecular geometry of trans-difluoroethylene, trans-C2H2F2, is linear.
To determine the molecular geometry of trans-difluoroethylene (trans-C2H2F2), we need to first draw its Lewis structure.
The Lewis structure of trans-C2H2F2 would show two carbon atoms (C) connected by a double bond, with one fluorine atom (F) bonded to each carbon atom.
Here is the Lewis structure:
C=C
| |
F F
Next, we count the number of electron groups around the central atom, which in this case is carbon (C). Electron groups can be either atoms or lone pairs of electrons on the central atom.
In the Lewis structure, there are two electron groups around the central carbon. These electron groups include one double bond and one single bond (each bond is considered an electron group).
Now, we can determine the molecular geometry using the VSEPR theory, which stands for Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory. According to the VSEPR theory, electron groups repel each other, causing them to arrange themselves in a way that maximizes the distance between them.
In this case, the carbon atom has two electron groups, which corresponds to the linear molecular geometry. In the linear geometry, the electron groups are arranged in a straight line, with a bond angle of 180 degrees.
So, the molecular geometry of trans-difluoroethylene (trans-C2H2F2) is linear.
I hope this explanation helps you understand how to determine the molecular geometry of a molecule using the Lewis structure and the VSEPR theory!