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MO and bond lengths

"Use a simple MO approach to explain why there are two different bond lengths in the SiF5 – ion. "

I'm thinking: 3 of the Si-F bonds are in sp2 HAOs, so have more s character (and so longer bonds) than the Si-F which use the p AO to bond?
Reply 1
Avatar for BJack
BJack
19
You have the right idea, thinking about sp2 vs the unhybridized p orbital. What makes you think that the increased s character would make the equatorial bonds longer, though?
Reply 2
Avatar for TSR George
TSR George
OP
17
Original post by BJack
You have the right idea, thinking about sp2 vs the unhybridized p orbital. What makes you think that the increased s character would make the equatorial bonds longer, though?


I was just thinking that sigma bonds made up of s orbitals are shorter than pi bonds. But looking at the orbitals themselves, s orbitals are smaller, so an increased s character would result in shorter bond lengths?

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