What is the shape of a methane () molecule?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Tetrahedral

  1. Step 1: Determine the steric number of the central carbon atom using VSEPR theory: carbon forms four single -bonds with zero lone pairs.
  2. Step 2: Four bonding electron pairs around a central atom adopt hybridization to minimize electrostatic repulsion.
  3. Step 3: The four electron domains arrange symmetrically toward the corners of a regular tetrahedron with bond angles of .
Answer
Tetrahedral.
Why not the others: Trigonal pyramidal is the geometry of ammonia (one lone pair); Planar describes molecules like ; Linear describes molecules like or .

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