Using the VSEPR model, what are the respective electron-domain geometries of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3)?

I: CO2
[ Select ]
trigonal bipyramidal
octahedral
trigonal planar
tetrahedral
linear

II: NH3
[ Select ]
tetrahedral
trigonal planar
octahedral
linear
trigonal bipyramidal

13A

Question

Using the VSEPR model, what are the respective electron-domain geometries of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3)?

I: CO2 
[ Select ]
trigonal bipyramidal
octahedral
trigonal planar
tetrahedral
linear

II: NH3 
[ Select ]
tetrahedral
trigonal planar
octahedral
linear
trigonal bipyramidal

13A

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

We start by identifying the electron-domain geometry around the central atom for each species using VSEPR principles.

CO2: The carbon atom in CO2 is bonded to two oxygen atoms with double bonds and has no lone pairs on the carbon. This means there are two electron domains and no lone-pair repulsion altering the arrangement, which corresponds to an AX2 pattern.
- Among the given options for CO2: linear is the correct electron-domain geometry because two regions of electron density arrange themselves opposite each other to minimize repulsion.
- Other choices such as trigonal bipyramidal, octahedral, trigonal planar, and tetrahedral imply 5, 6, 3, or 4 electron domains or different spatial arrangements that do not match CO2’s two-domain, no-lone-pair situation.

NH3: The nitrogen atom in NH3 is bonded to three hydrogen atoms and has one lone pair. This gives three bonding domains plus one lone pair, i.e., an AX3E1 pattern, totaling four electron domains.
- Four electron domains yield a tetrahedral electron-domain geometry because the lone pair occupies one apex and the three bonds occupy the remaining positions, but the overall electron-domain arrangement is tetrahedral.
- Among the choices for NH3, tetrahedral is the correct electron-domain geometry. (Note: the actual molecular geometry of NH3 is trigonal pyramidal, but the question asks for electron-domain geometry, which is tetrahedral.)
- The remaining options (trigonal planar, octahedral, linear, trigonal bipyramidal) would correspond to 3, 6, 2, or 5 electron domains respectively, which do not match NH3’s AX3E1 configuration.

In summary, CO2 exhibits a linear electron-domain geometry, while NH3 exhibits a tetrahedral electron-domain geometry. The other options do not align with the number of electron domains and their repulsion patterns in these molecules.

CHEM 1210 AU2025 (15738) Exam 4- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

Using the VSEPR model, what are the respective electron-domain geometries of carbon dioxide (CO2) and ammonia (NH3)? I: CO2 [ Select ] trigonal bipyramidal octahedral trigonal planar tetrahedral linear II: NH3 [ Select ] tetrahedral trigonal planar octahedral linear trigonal bipyramidal 13A

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