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Qube
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Homework Statement
What are the number of different bond angles for the isomer of [itex]F_{3}PCl_{2}[/itex] with each chlorine equatorial? What about for the isomer of [itex]BrPF_{4}[/itex] with the bromine axial?
According to the key the the first molecule has 5 unique bond angles.
Homework Equations
Trigonal bipyramidal usually has 2 different bond angles (90 and 120) when all the attachments are identical.
The Attempt at a Solution
I'm having a hard time visualizing what bond angles there could be when the attachments are not all identical. I see three different bond angles. When looking at the trigonal planar "center" of the molecule, I see two different bond angles. I also know about the 90 degree angle between the axial fluorine and the central phosphorous.
At best I see these 4 unique bond angles:
F-P-P: 90 and 180 degrees
Cl-P-Cl and Cl-P-F.
Where's the fifth one?
For [itex]BrPF_{4}[/itex] with the Br axial, I have three unique bond angles.
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