The Student Room Group

Chemistry bonding question

If a molecule doesn't contain lone pairs of electrons is it symmetrical?

Reply 1

Original post
by Slugzie(:
If a molecule doesn't contain lone pairs of electrons is it symmetrical?

In general, you can say with some certainty that any molecule with no lone pairs is symmetrical (the only possible counterexamples I can think of would be the alkali metal hydrides in the gas phase, assuming they form discrete molecules upon boiling).

Bear in mind that there will be some cases where molecules that do have lone pairs end up being symmetrical. XeF4 is a good example, as the xenon atom itself is square planar with two lone pairs (and each fluorine has 3 lone pairs).

Reply 2

Original post
by UtterlyUseless69
In general, you can say with some certainty that any molecule with no lone pairs is symmetrical (the only possible counterexamples I can think of would be the alkali metal hydrides in the gas phase, assuming they form discrete molecules upon boiling).
Bear in mind that there will be some cases where molecules that do have lone pairs end up being symmetrical. XeF4 is a good example, as the xenon atom itself is square planar with two lone pairs (and each fluorine has 3 lone pairs).

Thank you

Quick Reply

How The Student Room is moderated

To keep The Student Room safe for everyone, we moderate posts that are added to the site.