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NEET CHEMISTRYMedium

Which one of the following pairs is isostructural (i.e., having the same shape and hybridization)?

A

BCl3\text{BCl}_3 and BrCl3\text{BrCl}_3

B

NH3\text{NH}_3 and NO3\text{NO}_3^-

C

NF3\text{NF}_3 and BF3\text{BF}_3

D

BF4\text{BF}_4^- and NH4+\text{NH}_4^+

Step-by-Step Solution

To determine if species are isostructural, we calculate their steric numbers and hybridization based on VSEPR theory:

  • BCl3\text{BCl}_3 and BrCl3\text{BrCl}_3: BCl3\text{BCl}_3 has 3 bond pairs and 0 lone pairs (sp2sp^2 hybridization, trigonal planar). BrCl3\text{BrCl}_3 has 3 bond pairs and 2 lone pairs (sp3dsp^3d hybridization, T-shaped). They are not isostructural.
  • NH3\text{NH}_3 and NO3\text{NO}_3^-: NH3\text{NH}_3 has 3 bond pairs and 1 lone pair (sp3sp^3 hybridization, trigonal pyramidal). NO3\text{NO}_3^- has 3 bond domains and 0 lone pairs (sp2sp^2 hybridization, trigonal planar). They are not isostructural.
  • NF3\text{NF}_3 and BF3\text{BF}_3: NF3\text{NF}_3 is sp3sp^3 hybridized (trigonal pyramidal), whereas BF3\text{BF}_3 is sp2sp^2 hybridized (trigonal planar). They are not isostructural.
  • BF4\text{BF}_4^- and NH4+\text{NH}_4^+: In BF4\text{BF}_4^-, the central boron atom has 4 valence electrons (3 + 1 from the negative charge) forming 4 bond pairs and 0 lone pairs (sp3sp^3 hybridized, tetrahedral). In NH4+\text{NH}_4^+, the central nitrogen atom has 4 valence electrons (5 - 1 for the positive charge) forming 4 bond pairs and 0 lone pairs (sp3sp^3 hybridized, tetrahedral). Since both have the same sp3sp^3 hybridization and tetrahedral shape, they are isostructural.
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