

Because a multiple bond is counted as a single bond in the VSEPR model, each carbon atom behaves as if it had two electron groups. The next two carbon atoms share a triple bond, and each has an additional single bond. Use Figure 5.1.3 to determine the molecular geometry around each carbon atom and then deduce the structure of the molecule as a whole.īecause the carbon atom on the left is bonded to four other atoms, we know that it is approximately tetrahedral. Use the VSEPR model to predict the molecular geometry of propyne (H 3C–C≡CH), a gas with some anesthetic properties.Ĭount the number of electron groups around each carbon, recognizing that in the VSEPR model, a multiple bond counts as a single group. We can therefore predict the CH 3–N portion of the molecule to be roughly tetrahedral, similar to methane: The four bonds around carbon mean that it must be surrounded by four bonding electron pairs in a configuration similar to AX 4.

We can treat methyl isocyanate as linked AX mE n fragments beginning with the carbon atom at the left, which is connected to three H atoms and one N atom by single bonds. In addition, there was significant damage to livestock and crops. The resulting highly exothermic reaction caused a rapid increase in pressure that ruptured the tanks, releasing large amounts of methyl isocyanate that killed approximately 3800 people and wholly or partially disabled about 50,000 others. In 1984, large quantities of Sevin were accidentally released in Bhopal, India, when water leaked into storage tanks. We will demonstrate with methyl isocyanate (CH 3–N=C=O), a volatile and highly toxic molecule that is used to produce the pesticide Sevin. The VSEPR model can be used to predict the structure of somewhat more complex molecules with no single central atom by treating them as linked AX mE n fragments. In our discussion we will refer to Figure 5.1.2 and Figure 5.1.3, which summarize the common molecular geometries and idealized bond angles of molecules and ions with two to six electron groups. We will illustrate the use of this procedure with several examples, beginning with atoms with two electron groups.

