What is the shape of H3C+ ?
I would think the three regions of high electron density would make it trigonal planar. Of course it violates the rule of 8.
The shape of H3C+ (also known as methyl cation) can be determined using the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory.
H3C+ consists of three hydrogen atoms bonded to a carbon atom, with a positive charge on the carbon atom. Since there are no lone pairs on the carbon atom, the molecular geometry or shape is based solely on the positions of the hydrogen atoms.
The VSEPR theory predicts that the shape of H3C+ is trigonal planar. In a trigonal planar arrangement, the three hydrogen atoms are positioned around the carbon atom in a flat, triangular shape. The bond angles between all the atoms are approximately 120 degrees.
To determine the shape of a molecule, we need to consider its molecular geometry. In the case of H3C+ (the methyl cation), it consists of three hydrogen atoms (H) attached to a carbon atom (C) with a positive charge.
To find the shape, we can use VSEPR theory (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory). According to this theory, electron pairs surrounding the central atom repel each other and try to maximize their separation. This principle helps in determining the arrangement of atoms and the shape of the molecule.
In the case of H3C+, there are three regions of electron density (H-H-H). Due to the repulsion between these electron-rich regions, they will arrange themselves as far apart as possible. This leads to a trigonal planar molecular geometry.
So, the shape of H3C+ is trigonal planar, where the carbon atom is at the center, and the three hydrogen atoms are arranged in a flat triangular fashion around it.