What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with three bonding pairs and no lone pairs around the central atom?
Answer Details
The molecular geometry of a molecule with three bonding pairs and no lone pairs around the central atom is trigonal planar.
In a molecule, the arrangement of atoms around the central atom determines its molecular geometry. In this case, we have three bonding pairs around the central atom.
To determine the molecular geometry, we use the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory. According to this theory, electron pairs (both bonding and lone pairs) will arrange themselves in such a way as to minimize repulsion between them.
In a trigonal planar arrangement, the three bonding pairs are arranged in a flat plane, with each bond angle being 120 degrees. This means that the central atom is surrounded by three other atoms in a triangular shape.
The other options mentioned, such as tetrahedral, linear, and octahedral, do not apply to this particular scenario because they involve different numbers of bonding pairs and/or lone pairs.
In summary, a molecule with three bonding pairs and no lone pairs around the central atom has a trigonal planar molecular geometry.