Examples
ClF3
| Central atom: | Cl |  |
|---|---|---|
| Cl contributes: | 7 e− | |
| 3 x F contibute: | 3 e− | |
| Total VSE: | 10 | |
| Total VSEP: | 5 | |
| Geometry: | T-shaped (based on trigonal-bipyramidal) | |
Notes
- The lone pairs occupy equatorial positions on the trigonal bipyramid. This minimises the number of 90° lone-pair:bonding-pair interactions
- The equatorial-axial F–Cl–F bond angles are less than 90° due to lone-pair:bonding-pair repulsion being greater than bonding-pair:bonding-pair repulsion
- The axial-axial F–Cl–F bond angle is less than 180° for the same reason