10
lesson pretestMultiple Choice

Pretest

Question 10 • Chemistry

A molecule has two atoms that are bonded to the central atom and one lone pair of electrons around this central atom. What is the shape of the molecule?

Answer
A
linear
B
trigonal planar
C
bent
D
trigonal pyramidal

Explanation

The central atom has two bonded atoms and one lone pair, giving three regions of electron density. These arrange in a trigonal planar pattern, but the lone pair is not counted as an atom when naming the molecular shape. The two bonded atoms therefore form a bent shape, so the correct choice is bent.

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