Predict the molecular structure and bond angles for ICl3. Approximate bond angles are sufficient
ICl3 has a trigonal bipyramidal molecular geometry, which means that it has two different bond angles.
The three iodine-chlorine bonds in ICl3 are arranged in a triangle around the central iodine atom. The bond angle between each iodine-chlorine bond is 120 degrees, and the angle between the plane of this triangle and the plane of the other two iodine-chlorine bonds is 90 degrees.
The two axial iodine-chlorine bonds in ICl3 are located above and below the plane of the other three iodine-chlorine bonds. The angle between these axial bonds is 180 degrees.
Therefore, the approximate bond angles for ICl3 are:
- I-Cl-I bond angle - 120 degrees
- Cl-I-Cl bond angle - 120 degrees
- I-Cl axial bond angle - 180 degrees
Overall, the molecular shape of ICl3 is described as a T-shaped.