What is the shape of a methane () molecule?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Tetrahedral
- Step 1: In methane (), the central carbon atom forms single covalent bonds with hydrogen atoms and has no non-bonding lone pairs.
- Step 2: According to VSEPR theory, four bonding pairs of electrons arrange themselves with hybridization to minimize repulsion.
- Step 3: This geometry results in a symmetrical three-dimensional shape known as tetrahedral, with bond angles of .
Answer
Tetrahedral.
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