Which species is linear?
- A. H2O
- B. NH3
- C. BeCl2
- D. CH4
Explanation
Beryllium in beryllium chloride has only two bond pairs and no lone pairs, so they point in opposite directions at 180 degrees. Water is bent, ammonia pyramidal and methane tetrahedral, each shaped by the number of lone pairs present. Counting electron regions and lone pairs settles every VSEPR question of this kind.
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