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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: jennielynn_1980 on July 31, 2006, 09:48:07 PM

Title: why is SF2 an angular molecule?
Post by: jennielynn_1980 on July 31, 2006, 09:48:07 PM

Is SF₂ angular because it is like an H₂O molecule where the there are 4 sp³ hybrid  orbitals and the unbonded pairs of electrons in 2 sp3 orbitals repel each other more so than the bonded electrons making it an angular molecule?

Or, do the fluorines just bond to the 3p_y and 3p_z orbitals?  If this is the case, what would make the molecule angular?

Thanks :)

Title: Re: why is SF2 an angular molecule?
Post by: Mitch on July 31, 2006, 10:21:41 PM

The oxygen has 2 Hydrogens attached to it and it has 2 pairs of non-bonding electrons for a total of 4 things around the oxygen. The most likely way to arange 4 things around any object would be to have everything on the same plane or in a tetrahedron. To maximize the distance between 2 non-bonding electron pairs it will assume a tetrahedral shape.

Title: Re: why is SF2 an angular molecule?
Post by: jennielynn_1980 on July 31, 2006, 10:43:48 PM

H₂O is not a tetrahedron really though.  I mean it is but it is not symmetrical.  I understand the bond angle of H₂O is 104.5.  I just can't figure out why SF2 is angular because it is like H2O or for another reason.

Title: Re: why is SF2 an angular molecule?
Post by: Mitch on August 01, 2006, 01:36:49 AM

Because its like H2O

Title: Re: why is SF2 an angular molecule?
Post by: jennielynn_1980 on August 01, 2006, 08:43:20 AM

Thanks Mitch  :D  Is that what you were trying to tell me in the first place but I was too thick to figure it out?  If so, sorry.

Title: Re: why is SF2 an angular molecule?
Post by: Mitch on August 01, 2006, 11:19:28 AM

Yeah, basically. ;)