Q58 / 180 · KCET 2015 · Chemistry

One of the following conversion results in the change of hybridization and geometry :

  • A
    \( \mathrm{CH}_{4} \) to \( \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6} \)
  • B
    \( N H_{3} \) to \( N H \)
  • Correct answer
    C
    \( B F_{3} \) to \( B F_{4} \)
  • D
    \( \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \) to \( \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O} \)

Solution

For the conversion, \(\mathrm{CH}_{4} \rightarrow \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}\), There is no change in the hybridisation of the carbon atom. Each carbon loses an atom of hydrogen and the two carbon hydrogen bonds are replaced by a carbon-carbon bond. Both \(\mathrm{CH}_{4}\) and \(\mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{H}_{6}\) have \(\mathrm{sp}^{3}\) hybridisation and tetrahedral shape. For the conversion, \(\mathrm{NH}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}\) Nitrogen in \(\mathrm{NH}_{3}\) has 3 bonds and one lone pair. It has \(\mathrm{sp}^{3}\) hybridisation, thus has a tetrahedral geometry but due to lone pair of electrons, its shape is pyramidal. On conversion to \(\mathrm{NH}_{4}^{+}\), a proton attaches to the lone pair of electrons. The hybridisation remains the same, that is \(\mathrm{pp}^{3}\) but the shape of the molecule becomes tetrahedral. For the conversion, \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O} \rightarrow \mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{+}\), Oxygen in \(\mathrm{H}_{2}\) Oforms two bonds with two hydrogen atoms and has two lone pairs of electrons. Thus, it has a hybridisation of \({s p^{3}}^{3}\), a tetrahedral geometry but a bent shape. On conversion to \(\mathrm{H}_{3} \mathrm{O}^{+}\), a proton attaches to the lone pair of electrons. The hybridisation remains the same, that is \(\operatorname{sp}^{3}\) but the shape of the molecule now becomes pyramidal. For the conversion, \(\mathrm{BF}_{3} \rightarrow \mathrm{BF}_{4}^{-}\) Boron in \(\mathrm{BF}_{3}\) forms three bonds with three fluorine atoms and has no lone pair of electrons. Thus, it has the hybridisation \(\mathbf{s p}^{2}\) and trigonal planar shape. On conversion to \(\mathrm{BF}_{4}^{-}\), a fluoride ion puts its lone pair in the empty orbital of boron atom changing the hybridisation to \(\mathrm{sp}^{3}\) and shape to tetrahedral.

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'C'.

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