A tetrahedral field presents four sets of ligand electrons, whereas an octahedral field presents six sets of ligand electrons. Is the electron repulsion smaller, larger, or roughly the same in the tetrahedral case?

Question

Chemistry

Kolby Rasmussen

14 July, 18:46

A tetrahedral field presents four sets of ligand electrons, whereas an octahedral field presents six sets of ligand electrons. Is the electron repulsion smaller, larger, or roughly the same in the tetrahedral case?

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Answers (1)

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Giovanny Boyd · Answer 1

For the tetrahedral case the repulsion is smaller.

Explanation:

It is smaller for the tetrahedral case because he angles for tetrahedral molecules are greater (109.5) then for octahedral molecules (90). The greater the distance between the atoms the smaller the repulsion, and so the bigger are angles the bigger is distance.