These questions consist of two statements each printed as assertion an...
Answer:
Assertion: BF3 molecule is planar but NF3 is pyramidal.
Reason: N atom is smaller than B.
The correct answer is option 'B': Both Assertion and Reason are true but the Reason is not the correct explanation of the Assertion.
Explanation:
1. Planar Geometry of BF3:
- The BF3 molecule consists of a central boron atom (B) bonded with three fluorine atoms (F) surrounding it.
- Each fluorine atom forms a single covalent bond with the boron atom, resulting in a trigonal planar geometry.
- In the BF3 molecule, the boron atom has an empty p orbital, which allows the three fluorine atoms to bond with it in a planar arrangement.
- The shape of the molecule is determined by the repulsion between the bonding and non-bonding electron pairs around the central atom.
- The repulsion between the three bonding electron pairs in the case of BF3 results in a planar geometry.
2. Pyramidal Geometry of NF3:
- The NF3 molecule consists of a central nitrogen atom (N) bonded with three fluorine atoms (F) surrounding it.
- Each fluorine atom forms a single covalent bond with the nitrogen atom, resulting in a trigonal pyramidal geometry.
- In the NF3 molecule, the nitrogen atom has one lone pair of electrons, in addition to the three bonding electron pairs.
- The repulsion between the three bonding electron pairs and the lone pair of electrons around the nitrogen atom results in a pyramidal geometry.
- The lone pair of electrons occupies more space than the bonding electron pairs, leading to a distortion in the molecular geometry.
Comparison of Sizes:
- The reason given in the statement is that the nitrogen atom is smaller than the boron atom, which is incorrect.
- In reality, the boron atom is smaller than the nitrogen atom.
- The atomic radius of nitrogen is larger than that of boron.
- The size difference between the boron and nitrogen atoms is not the determining factor for the difference in geometry between BF3 and NF3.
Conclusion:
- The correct explanation for the difference in geometry between BF3 and NF3 lies in the presence of a lone pair of electrons on the nitrogen atom in NF3.
- This lone pair of electrons causes a distortion in the molecular geometry, leading to a pyramidal shape.
- Therefore, both the assertion and the reason are true, but the reason given is not the correct explanation for the assertion.
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