Practice problems: Molecular shapes and polarity

For each molecule or ion, determine the shape and indicate whether each molecule will be polar or non-polar.

Questions 11 - 16 involve more than 4 electron pairs around the central atom.

1. SO₂ 9. BF₃

2. CCl₄ 10. SF₃⁺

3. CHCl₃ 11. XeF₂

4. TeCl₂ 12. BrF₅

5. CO₃^2- 13. XeF₄

6. NH₃ 14. SeF₄

7. SO₄^2- 15. ClF₃

8. CO₂ 16. SeF₆

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Answers:

1. bent, polar (slightly) 9. trigonal planar, non-polar

2. tetrahedral, non-polar 10. trigonal pyramidal **

3. tetrahedral, polar 11. linear, non-polar

4. bent, polar 12. square pyramid, polar

5. trigonal planar * 13. square planar, non-polar

6. trigonal pyramidal, polar 14. see-saw, polar

7. tetrahedral * 15. t-shaped, polar

8. linear, non-polar 16. octahedral, non-polar

* Would be non-polar if it were a neutral molecule, but we don’t generally talk about ions as being polar or non-polar

** Would be slightly polar if it were a neutral molecule