Q. 6.75 - An Introduction to General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry

Question

Compare the Lewis structures of ${\mathrm{CF}}_4$ and ${\mathrm{NF}}_3$. Why do these molecules have different shapes?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Molecules have different shapes due to different number of bond pair and lone pair.

Step 1 : Given information

We are given that ${\mathrm{CF}}_4$ and ${\mathrm{NF}}_3$molecules have different shapes

Step 2 : Simplify

One carbon atom and four fluorine atoms make up the Lewis structure of ${\mathrm{CF}}_4$, with the carbon atom in the centre and the fluorine atoms surrounding it. The Lewis dot structure's central atom contains no lone pairs, but each of the outside atoms has three.

In the Lewis structure of ${\mathrm{NF}}_3$ three single bonds bind three fluorine and one nitrogen atoms. There are $10$ lone pairs and $3$ bound pairs in the ${\mathrm{NF}}_3$ Lewis structure.