Question 10.12: Applying VSEPR Theory to a Molecule with More Than One Centr...

General Chemistry: Principles and Modern Applications

Applying VSEPR Theory to a Molecule with More Than One Central Atom

Methyl isocyanate, $CH_3 NCO$ , is used in the manufacture of insecticides, such as carbaryl (Sevin). In the $CH_3 NCO$ molecule, the three H atoms and the O atom are terminal atoms and the two C and one N atom are central atoms. Draw the structure of this molecule, using dash and wedge symbols, and indicate the various bond angles.

Analyze
We must first draw a plausible Lewis structure. Then, we determine the electron group geometry around each atom and estimate the angles between pairs of bonds.

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The number of valence electrons in the structure is

$\begin{matrix} \text{From C} & \text{From N} & \text{From O} & \text{From H} & \\ (2 \times 4) & (1 \times 5) & (1 \times 6) & (3 \times 1) & = 22 \end{matrix}$

In drawing the skeletal structure and assigning valence electrons, we first obtain a structure with incomplete octets. By shifting the indicated electrons, we can give each atom an octet.

The C atom on the left has four electron groups around itــــall bond pairs. The shape of this end of the molecule is tetrahedral. The C atom to the right, by forming two double bonds, is treated as having two groups of electrons around it. This distribution is linear. For the N atom, three groups of electrons are distributed in a trigonal planar manner. The $\begin{matrix} C-N-C \end{matrix}$ bond angle should be about 120°.

Assess
The strategy outlined above can be applied to molecules of varying complexity

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