Trigonal Planar Molecular Geometry

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Page ID: 690

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AX₃

	Shape:	trigonal planar
	Steric Number:	3
	Lone Pairs:	0
	Polar/NonPolar:	NonPolar
	Hybridization:	sp²
	Examples:	BF₃, CO₃²^-

NOTES: This molecule is made up of 3 equally spaced sp² hybrid orbitals arranged at 120^o angles. The shape of the orbitals is planar triangular. Since there is an atom at the end of each orbital, the shape of the molecule is also planar triangular.

Contributors and Attributions

Charles Ophardt, Professor Emeritus, Elmhurst College; Virtual Chembook