The number of interhalogens from the following having square pyramidal structure is: ClF , IF , BrF — Chemical Bonding Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

**Step 1: Identify the square pyramidal geometry requirement** Square pyramidal structure occurs when a central atom has 6 electron pairs (5 bonding + 1 lone pair) arranged as AX₅E, where A is the central atom, X are bonded atoms, and E is a lone pair. **Step 2: Determine hybridization needed** Square pyramidal geometry requires sp³d² hybridization with 6 electron domains total. **Step 3: Analyze each interhalogen** - **ClF**: 2 atoms, linear → not square pyramidal - **IF**: 2 atoms, linear → not square pyramidal - **BrF₃**: 3 bonding pairs + 2 lone pairs (T-shaped) → not square pyramidal - **BrF₅**: 5 bonding pairs + 1 lone pair (square pyramidal) ✓ - **ICl₂**: 2 bonding pairs + 3 lone pairs (linear) → not square pyramidal - **IF₆**: 6 bonding pairs + 0 lone pairs (octahedral) → not square pyramidal - **ClF₅**: 5 bonding pairs + 1 lone pair (square pyramidal) ✓ - **ClF₃**: 3 bonding pairs + 2 lone pairs (T-shaped) → not square pyramidal **Step 4: Identify square pyramidal interhalogens** Only BrF₅ and ClF₅ have the AX₅E configuration needed for square pyramidal geometry. **Step 5: Check for additional square pyramidal species** IF₇ (if included) would have 7 electron pairs, giving pentagonal bipyramidal shape, not square pyramidal. Therefore, the answer is 3.