Statement (I): for ClFX3, all three possible structures may be drawn as follows.
Statement (II): Structure III is most stable, as the orbitals having the lone pairs are axial, where the ℓp−bp repulsion is minimum.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:IIIIII
(A)Statement I is incorrect but statement II is correct.
(B)Statement I is correct but statement II is incorrect.✓ Correct
(C)Both Statement I and statement II are correct.
(D)Both Statement I and statement II are incorrect.
Answer: (B)
Solution
In ClF3 the chlorine is sp3d hybridised with three bonding pairs and two lone pairs in a trigonal bipyramidal framework, and the two lone pairs can be arranged in three distinct ways, both equatorial, one axial and one equatorial, or both axial, so three structures can indeed be drawn and the first statement is correct. A lone pair placed along the axial direction suffers three close 90∘ contacts, whereas an equatorial lone pair has only two, so lone pair−bond pair repulsion is least when the lone pairs lie in the equatorial plane. The most stable structure is therefore the one with both lone pairs equatorial, not the all-axial arrangement claimed, so the second statement is incorrect. The first statement is correct while the second is incorrect.
JEE Main · 2025 · 04 Apr 2025 · Shift 2 · Single correct option
