Trigonal planar molecular geometry: Examples and characteristics

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 📐 Trigonal planar geometry describes molecules where one central atom is bonded to three other atoms.
• 🔗 These three atoms are arranged at the corners of an equilateral triangle.
• 📏 The bond angles are all 120 degrees.
• ⚛️ The central atom has no lone pairs of electrons.
• 🧪 Examples include boron trifluoride ($BF_3$) and formaldehyde ($CH_2O$).

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following molecules exhibits trigonal planar geometry?
   1. Ammonia ($NH_3$)
   2. Water ($H_2O$)
   3. Boron trifluoride ($BF_3$)
   4. Methane ($CH_4$)
2. What is the bond angle in a trigonal planar molecule?
   1. 90 degrees
   2. 109.5 degrees
   3. 120 degrees
   4. 180 degrees
3. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of trigonal planar geometry?
   1. Central atom with three bonded atoms
   2. Planar molecule
   3. Bond angles of 120 degrees
   4. Central atom with one lone pair
4. Which of the following molecules is bent?
   1. $BF_3$
   2. $CH_2O$
   3. $SO_2$
   4. $AlCl_3$
5. What is the steric number of a molecule with trigonal planar geometry?
   1. 2
   2. 3
   3. 4
   4. 5
6. In $BF_3$, what is the central atom?
   1. Fluorine
   2. Boron
   3. Hydrogen
   4. Nitrogen
7. Which of the following molecules has a double bond and exhibits trigonal planar geometry around one of its central atoms?
   1. $NH_3$
   2. $H_2O$
   3. $CH_2O$
   4. $CH_4$