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CHEM 121 Studioby Learn4Less · UBC CHEM 121

CHEM 121 glossary

Tetrahedral

Four domains pointing to the corners of a tetrahedron, 109.5° apart. It is the electron-domain geometry for SN = 4 and the molecular shape of AX4\mathrm{AX_4}; no two of the four positions are opposite each other.

Central C atom bonded to 4 H atoms, with no lone pairs.HHCHH109.5°Ideal bond angle: 109.5°
CHX4\ce{CH4}: every H–C–H angle is 109.5°.

Example

NHX4X+\ce{NH4+}, CClX4\ce{CCl4} and SOX4X2−\ce{SO4^2-} are tetrahedral. CClX4\ce{CCl4} is nonpolar, but CHClX3\ce{CHCl3}, with one different substituent, is polar.

See alsoTrigonal pyramidalBentElectron-domain geometryBond angle