AX3E2

	Shapes of Molecules

AX₃E₂

	Shape:	T-shaped
	Steric Number:	5
	Lone Pairs:	2
	Polar/NonPolar:	Polar
	Hybridization:	sp³d
	Example:	ClF₃
	GIF File:	ax3e2.gif (75K)

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NOTES: This molecule is made up of 5 sp³d hybrid orbitals. Three orbitals are arranged around the equator of the molecule with bond angles of 120^o. Two orbitals are arranged along the vertical axis at 90^o from the equatorial orbitals. The shape of the orbitals is trigonal bipyramidal. Two of the equatorial orbitals contain lone pairs of electrons. The three atoms are arranged around the central atom to form a T-shaped molecule.