If a molecule contains a central atom bonded to four other atoms and all bonds are single covalent, what is the most likely shape of this molecule?
The molecule is tetrahedral in shape.
According to VSEPR theory, the electron pairs around a central atom repel one another and arrange themselves as far apart as possible, and this arrangement decides the shape of the molecule.
A central atom bonded to four atoms by single covalent bonds has four bond pairs. With no lone pairs, the four bond pairs point to the corners of a regular tetrahedron with bond angles of about 109.5°, as in methane (CH4). So the most likely shape is tetrahedral.
A trigonal pyramidal shape arises from three bond pairs and one lone pair (as in NH3), a linear shape from two bonded atoms around the centre (as in CO2), and a trigonal planar shape from three bond pairs with no lone pair (as in BF3). None of these has four bonded atoms.
Hence, The molecule is tetrahedral in shape.
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