The hybrid set of orbitals used by the atom X in the compound XY6 is a sp3d2 set. What is the shape of the molecule?
octahedral
The hybrid set of orbitals used by the central atom X in the compound XY6 is a sp3d2 set. This indicates that there are six regions of electron density around the central atom.
The shape of the molecule can be determined using the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory. According to this theory, the shape of a molecule is determined by the repulsion between electron pairs around the central atom.
In this case, since there are six regions of electron density, we can expect that the molecule will adopt an octahedral shape. An octahedral shape consists of six atoms or groups of electrons arranged symmetrically around the central atom in a three-dimensional structure.
Therefore, the shape of the molecule XY6, with the central atom X utilizing a sp3d2 hybridization, would be an octahedral shape.
To determine the shape of a molecule, we need to follow these steps:
Step 1: Identify the central atom in the molecule. In this case, the central atom is X.
Step 2: Determine the number of atoms or lone pairs surrounding the central atom. In the molecule XY6, there are 6 atoms or groups surrounding the central atom X.
Step 3: Determine the electron pair geometry. Since there are 6 atoms or groups surrounding the central atom in a sp3d2 hybridization, the electron pair geometry is octahedral. This means that the electron pairs (both bonding and lone pairs) will arrange themselves in a three-dimensional shape with X at the center and the six surrounding groups located at the corners of an octahedron.
Step 4: Determine the molecular geometry. To do this, we need to consider both the bonding and the lone pairs of electrons. In this case, all the six surrounding groups are atoms (not lone pairs). Therefore, the molecular geometry will be consistent with the electron pair geometry, which is octahedral. This means that the molecule XY6 will have an octahedral shape.
In summary, the shape of the molecule XY6, with atom X in a sp3d2 hybridization, is octahedral.