Question

In $BrF_3$ molecule, the lone pairs occupy equatorial positions to minimise

• A. lone pair-bond pair repulsion
• B. bond pair-bond pair repulsion
• C. lone pair-lone pair repulsion and lone pair-bond pair repulsion
• D. lone pair-lone pair repulsion

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

lone pair-lone pair repulsion and lone pair-bond pair repulsion

Answer 2

In $BrF_3$ molecule, Br is $sp^3d$ hybridised, but its geometry is $T$-shaped due to distortion of geometry from trigonal bipyramidal to $T$-shaped by the involvement of lone pair-lone pair repulsion.
Here, $lp - lp$ repulsion = 0 , $lp - bp$ repulsion = 4 , $bp - bp$ repulsion = 2