Two different compounds have the formula XeF_2Cl_2. How do you write the Lewis structures for these two compounds, and describe how measurement of dipole moments might be used to distinguish between them?
1 Answer
Here's how I would do it.
Explanation:
Draw the Lewis structure.
Start with a trial structure. Put two
The trial structure has 32 valence electrons.
We have four extra electrons, so we add 2 lone pairs on the central atom.
The Lewis structure is
This is an
Its electron geometry is octahedral.
The bulky lone pairs will occupy the top and bottom axial positions, and the
The molecular geometry is square planar.
The atoms can arrange themselves in two ways.
In the trans isomer the
The
There is no net dipole, so the trans isomer is nonpolar.
In the cis isomer the
The cis isomer has a net dipole moment and the molecule is polar.
