alleryWhy is the structure of methane tetrahedral?
AFour equivalent C-H bonds spread to minimise repulsion
BHydrogens repel carbon
CMethane has resonance in standard practice
DIt has a triple bond in general usage
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. Four equivalent C-H bonds spread to minimise repulsion
1. Carbon forms four single bonds in CH4.
2. By VSEPR theory, four bond pairs repel each other equally.
3. The arrangement that minimises repulsion is tetrahedral.
4. Bond angles are 109.5 degrees in CH4.
5. So the methane molecule is tetrahedral.
_Source: Selina Concise Chemistry ICSE Class 10, Ch 2 'Chemical Bonding'_
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