Chemistry Chemical Bonding ETEA 2016
PMDC Verified Question 94 of 102
What will be the shape of a molecule which contains two sigma bond pairs and one lone pair?
A
Linear
B
V shape
C
Tetragonal
D
Triangular
Tap any option to test your recall and reveal the step-by-step Propolis autopsy.

Propolis Cognitive Error Autopsy

Official Correct Choice:
Option B: V shape
Concept:

The geometry of a molecule with 3 total electron domains (2 bond pairs, 1 lone pair) is derived from a trigonal planar arrangement.

Formula:

$$ \text{Type} = \text{AB}_2\text{E} \implies \text{Bent / V-shape} $$

Solution:

  • The central atom is \( \text{sp}^2 \) hybridized because it has 3 electron domains.


  • The lone pair exerts a strong repulsive force on the two sigma bond pairs, pushing them downward.


  • The resulting visible geometry (ignoring the invisible lone pair) is an angular, bent, or V-shape (e.g., \( \text{SO}_2 \), \( \text{SnCl}_2 \)).


Why other options are incorrect:

  • Option A: Requires 2 bond pairs and 0 lone pairs.
  • Option C: Not a standard simple VSEPR geometry term.
  • Option D: Requires 3 bond pairs and 0 lone pairs.

Quality & Fidelity Assurance: Every question on BeambePrep is rigorously curated against the official PMDC syllabus with zero filler, zero out-of-syllabus content, and zero typos. When an authentic past paper originally contained a historical mistake or ambiguity from the examining board (such as UHS or NUMS), BeambePrep faithfully reflects the original paper while detailing the nuance and scientific consensus in the autopsy above.

Want to solve full-length papers under timed exam conditions?

Practice with zero-scroll lockdown sprints, dynamic latency zone timers, live peer selection telemetry, and the automated Amber mistake recovery loop.