Chemistry / Unit 6 Chem 1051 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Five-Domain Geometry: Trigonal Bipyramidal
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The idea
A central atom with five electron domains and no lone pairs adopts a trigonal bipyramidal geometry, with two distinct bond-angle positions.
In practice
Phosphorus pentachloride, PCl5, five bonding domains and no lone pairs, is trigonal bipyramidal.
Where people slip
A trigonal bipyramid's two angle types, 90° and 120°, mean its five positions are not all equivalent, unlike a tetrahedron's four.
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