Why Does the Seesaw Molecular Geometry (Ss) Have a Lower

question 124

Multiple Choice

Why does the seesaw molecular geometry (ss) have a lower energy than the trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry (tp) in an AB₄ molecule with a trigonal bipyramidal electron-pair geometry?

• A)The ss geometry has fewer lone-pair bonding-pair interactions at 90^o.
• B)The ss geometry has fewer lone-pair bonding-pair interactions at 120^o.
• C)The ss geometry has fewer bonding-pair bonding-pair interactions at 120^o.
• D)The ss geometry has fewer bonding-pair bonding-pair interactions at 90^o.
• E)The ss geometry has fewer lone-pair lone-pair interactions at 90^o.

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