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2.9.2: Trigonal Bipyramidal Structures

  • Page ID
    2605
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    Trigonal Bipyramidal electron configuration is part of the VSEPR model of an atom with 5 electron pairs.

    Introduction

    Trigonal Bipyramidal structures are electronic configurations of molecules. VSEPR gives us a handful of parent shapes. The one with 5 sets of bonded or non-bonded electrons.

    Molecular Geometry of the Trigonal Bipyramidal Structures

    Number of Lone pairs Geometry Bond Angles
    0 Trigonal Bipyramidal 90 and 120
    1 Seesaw 90 and 120
    2 T-Shaped 90
    3 Linear 180

    The order of most repulsion to least repulsion among bonding and lone pair electrons are:

    Lone pair-Lone pair > Lone pair-Bond pair > Bond pair-Bond pair

    To decide where to place lone pairs on the parent Trigonal Bipyramidal structure, we must place lone pairs far away from each other and bond pairs. The seesaw shape maximizes the bond angles of the single lone pair and the other atoms in the molecule. The lone pair is in an equatorial position offering 120 and 90 degree bond angles, compared to only 90 degree bond angles if placed at the axial position.

    The T shaped structure minimizes the remaining bond pair-bond pair angles at 90 degrees and maximizes the lone pair-lone pair bond angle at 120.

    The linear structure does the same by making sure that the lone pairs are kept at a maximum of 120 degree bond angles. As a result, all are placed in the equatorial position, leaving room at the axial postion for the atoms. Thus, the bond angles of the atoms are 180 degrees from each other.

    Stereoisomers

    Since there are two types of atoms on a Trigonal Bipyramidal structure, axial and equatorial, there are different Stereoisomers that could arise depending on the substituents attached. For example, if there is 4 X atoms and 1 Y atom attached to the central atom, Y could either be in an equatorial position or in an axial position. If there are 3 X atoms and 2 Y atoms, then one Y atom could be placed in a equatorial position and the other in an axial position, or both Y atoms could be placed in the same position.

    References

    1. Housecroft, C.E., & Sharpe, A.G. (2008). Inorganic chemistry. Essex England: Pearson Education.
    2. Petrucci, R.H., Harwood, W.S., Herring, F.G, & Madura, J.D. (2007). General chemistry: principles and modern application. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.

    Problems

    1. How would you arrange SeCl4?
    2. How would you arrange ArCl2?
    3. How would you arrange ICl3?

    Contributors and Attributions

    • Ian Marton (UC Davis)

    2.9.2: Trigonal Bipyramidal Structures is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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