Q. In $BrF_{3}$ molecule, the lone pairs occupy equatorial positions to minimize
A) Lone pair – bond pair repulsion only
B) Bond pair – bond pair repulsion only
C) Lone pair – lone pair repulsion and lone pair – bond pair repulsion
D) Lone pair – lone pair repulsion only
Explanation
(d)
In $BrF_{3}$ molecule, Br is $sp^{3}d$ hybrid, but geometry is T-shaped due to distortion of geometry from trigonal-bipyramidal to T-shaped by the involvement of lone pair-lone pair repulsion.
Here
$lp - lp$ repulsion = 0
$lp - bp$ repulsion = 4
$bp - bp$ repulsion = 2
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Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.