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11 grade chemistry others

What is the bond angle in ClO2^- (OClO)?
A. 90°
B. 120°
C. 105°
D. 111°

Profile image of Aniket Singh
1 Year agoGrade
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1 Answer

Profile image of Askiitians Tutor Team
1 Year ago

The bond angle in the ClO₂⁻ ion (OClO) can be determined by considering its molecular geometry. ClO₂⁻ has a bent or V-shaped molecular geometry due to the presence of two lone pairs on the central chlorine atom and two bonding pairs.

The presence of lone pairs tends to repel the bonding pairs, resulting in a smaller bond angle than if there were no lone pairs present. However, the exact bond angle is influenced by several factors, including the repulsion between lone pairs and bonding pairs.

Typically, in molecules with one lone pair and two bonding pairs (like in ClO₂⁻), the bond angle is slightly less than the ideal tetrahedral angle of 109.5° due to the repulsion of the lone pair. The actual bond angle is usually around 105°.

So, the correct answer is C. 105°.