What is Bent's rule?

(give some examples)

Dear Aravind,

Bent's rule states that more electronegative substituents prefer site which has higher p character or in other words less s character.

Example -  molecular geometry can be explained and predicted by changing the substituent group. In the molecule Me₂XCl₂, (X=main group elements C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb), the bond angle Cl-X-Cl is smaller than C-X-C bond angle. With the highly electronegative halogen substituent, Cl, more p character is concentrated on central atom in X-Cl than X-C bonds.

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