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Question: In the molecule \( {H_2}S \) , four electron groups around the sulphur atom are arranged in a tetrah...

In the molecule H2S{H_2}S , four electron groups around the sulphur atom are arranged in a tetrahedral geometry, but the shape of the molecule is called "bent." Why does the shape have a different name from the name of the electron group geometry?

Explanation

Solution

We can know the hybridisation of any molecule using this simple formula:
Hybridisation=no.of valence electrons in the central atom+no.ofHydrogen Atoms+no.of Halide Atoms±Formal Charge2Hybridisation = \dfrac{{no.of{\text{ }}valence{\text{ }}electron\operatorname{s} {\text{ }}in{\text{ }}the{\text{ }}central{\text{ }}atom + no.ofHydrogen{\text{ }}Atoms + no.of{\text{ }}Halide{\text{ }}Atoms \pm Formal{\text{ }}Ch\arg e}}{2}
If the answer we get is:

Answer Obtained/Steric NumberHybridisation
2sp
3sp2s{p^2}
4sp3s{p^3}
5sp3ds{p^3}d
6sp3d2s{p^3}{d^2}

Complete answer:
First we will understand two terms, molecular geometry (also known as the shape of the molecule) and electron pair geometry. The molecular geometry deals with the arrangements of all the atoms that make up the molecule and the electron pair geometry is the arrangement of electron density that surrounds the molecule. The electron density can either be of a single, double or triple bond or a lone pair of electrons.
The electron pair geometry includes all the bond pairs as well as Lone pairs whereas the molecular geometry includes just the bonds. According to the formula given above, the hybridization of H2S{H_2}S can be given as:
Hybridisation=12(6+2)=4sp3Hybridisation = \dfrac{1}{2}(6 + 2) = 4 \to s{p^3}
The Lewis dot structure of H2S{H_2}S is shown below.

The Sulphur atom is surrounded by two hydrogen atoms and two lone pairs. This means that it has a steric number of 4. Hence the electron pair geometry with Steric Number 4 will be tetrahedral.
The coordination number of the molecule H2S{H_2}S is 2. This only includes only the bonds of two hydrogen atoms. According to VSEPR theory, the molecular geometry for a molecule with a central atom surrounded by hydrogen atoms is Bent shape. The shape of molecule H2O{H_2}O is similar to that of H2S{H_2}S .

Note:
The electron pair geometry is the actual geometry of the molecule which includes the lone pairs also and can be different from the molecular geometry which is the shape of the molecule because it only considers the bonds to other atoms.