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NEET CHEMISTRYEasy

Among the following, the pair in which the two species are not isostructural is:

A

IO3IO_{3}^{-} and XeO3XeO_{3}

B

BH4BH_{4}^{-} and NH4+NH_{4}^{+}

C

PF6PF_{6}^{-} and SF6SF_{6}

D

SiF4SiF_{4} and SF4SF_{4}

Step-by-Step Solution

Isostructural species are defined as those having the same molecular geometry . We can determine the geometry of each species using the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory:

  1. SiF4SiF_{4} and SF4SF_{4}: Silicon (Group 14) has four valence electrons, which it uses to form four bonds with fluorine atoms, resulting in a tetrahedral geometry . Sulphur (Group 16) has six valence electrons; it forms four bonds with fluorine and retains one lone pair (AB4EAB_{4}E type), resulting in a see-saw geometry . Because their geometries differ, they are not isostructural.
  2. IO3IO_{3}^{-} and XeO3XeO_{3}: Iodine (with a negative charge) and Xenon both effectively have eight valence electrons. They each form three bonds with oxygen and have one lone pair (AB3EAB_{3}E type), leading to a trigonal pyramidal geometry .
  3. BH4BH_{4}^{-} and NH4+NH_{4}^{+}: Both central atoms have four valence electrons involved in bonding (Boron gains one for the negative charge; Nitrogen loses one for the positive charge). Both form four bonds with hydrogen, resulting in tetrahedral geometries .
  4. PF6PF_{6}^{-} and SF6SF_{6}: Both phosphorus (with a negative charge) and sulphur effectively have six valence electrons, forming six bonds with fluorine atoms. This results in an octahedral geometry for both species .

Therefore, the only pair that is not isostructural is SiF4SiF_{4} and SF4SF_{4}.

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