Out of the following chemical species, how many exhibit a perfectly linear molecular shape? , , , , — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

The linear species are $CO_2$ ($sp$, 0 lp), $I_3^-$ ($sp^3d$, 3 lp), $XeF_2$ ($sp^3d$, 3 lp), $NO_2^+$ ($sp$, 0 lp), and $BeCl_2$ ($sp$, 0 lp). The species $H_2O$, $SO_2$, and $SnCl_2$ are all bent/V-shaped due to the presence of lone pairs on the central atom. Total = 5.