is an interhalogen T-shaped molecule. The number of lone pairs of electrons on A is ______. (Integer answer)
Answer: 2
Solution
Three bond pairs alone would give a trigonal planar molecule, so a T-shaped must carry lone pairs on A as well. Five electron pairs in a trigonal bipyramidal arrangement, with two of them lone pairs placed in the equatorial plane where lone pair repulsion is least, leave the three bond pairs along one equatorial and two axial directions, which is the T shape; is the familiar example. The number of lone pairs of electrons on A is .
JEE Main · 2021 · 26 Aug 2021 · Shift 1 · Integer answer