The iodine bromide molecule, IBr, is an interhalogen compound. Assume that the molecular orbitals of IBr are analogous to the homonuclear diatomic molecule F2.
(a) Which valence atomic orbitals of I and of Br are used to construct the MOs of IBr?
(b) What is the bond order of the IBr molecule?
(c) One of the valence MOs of IBr is sketched here. Why are the atomic orbital contributions to this MO different in size?
(d)What is the label for the MO?
(e) For the IBr molecule, how many electrons occupy the MO?
Which would you expect to take up more space, a P-F bond or a P-Cl bond? Explain.
(c) Predict the molecular geometry of PF4Cl.How did your answer for part (b) influence your answer here in part (c)?
(d) Would you expect the molecule to distort from its ideal electron-domain geometry? If so, how would it distort?