The number of bent-shaped molecule(s) from the following is: N3^-… — Solution | JEE Chemistry

NVAEasyJEE 2023VSEPR Theory & Shapes of Molecules

The number of bent-shaped molecule(s) from the following is: $\mathrm{N_3^-}$ , $\mathrm{NO_2^-}$ , $\mathrm{I_3^-}$ , $\mathrm{O_3}$ , $\mathrm{SO_2}$

Answer

Correct answer:3

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: $\mathrm{N_3^-}$ , $\mathrm{NO_2^-}$ , $\mathrm{I_3^-}$ , $\mathrm{O_3}$ , $\mathrm{SO_2}$

Find: The number of species having bent shape.

From the solution content:

$\mathrm{SO_2}$ has bent molecular geometry.
$\mathrm{O_3}$ has bent molecular geometry.
$\mathrm{I_3^-}$ has linear geometry.
$\mathrm{N_3^-}$ is linear.

For the remaining species $\mathrm{NO_2^-}$ , the bent shape follows from its molecular geometry with a lone pair on the central atom.

Therefore, the bent-shaped species are $\mathrm{NO_2^-}$ , $\mathrm{O_3}$ and $\mathrm{SO_2}$ .

So, the required number is $3$ .

Structures of sulfur dioxide, ozone, triiodide ion and azide ion showing bent and linear molecular geometries with lone pairs marked.

Shape-wise Classification

Given: Five species are listed.

Identify principle: Use molecular shape classification.

$\mathrm{SO_2}$ (bent)
$\mathrm{O_3}$ (bent)
$\mathrm{I_3^-}$ (linear)
$\mathrm{N_3^-}$ (linear)
$\mathrm{NO_2^-}$ (bent)

Hence, total number of bent species is

3

Therefore, the answer is $3$ .

Common mistakes

Treating $\mathrm{NO_2^-}$ as linear is incorrect because the central nitrogen has a lone pair, which gives a bent molecular shape. Check the electron-pair arrangement before deciding the geometry.
Confusing electron geometry with molecular geometry leads to errors. For species like $\mathrm{SO_2}$ and $\mathrm{O_3}$ , lone pairs change the molecular shape to bent even though the electron-domain arrangement is trigonal planar.
Assuming every three-atom species is bent is incorrect. $\mathrm{N_3^-}$ and $\mathrm{I_3^-}$ are linear, so shape must be decided species by species.

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