Question

The failure of VBT to explain the tetrahedral geometry of $C{H}_4$ is because:

• A. All the $C-H$ bond distance and $H-C-H$ bond angles are equal in $C{H}_4$
• B. $C{H}_4$ is ionic
• C. It contains coordinate covalent bond
• D. All of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is A All the $C-H$ bond distance and $H-C-H$ bond angles are equal in $C{H}_4$

According to VBT, three bonds in $C{H}_4$ will be formed from $s-p$ overlapping and one $C-H$ bond will be formed from $s-s$ overlapping. So, three $C-H$ bonds should be the same and it should differ from the fourth. But in reality, in $C{H}_4$, all the bonds and angles are the same. Hence, VBT failed to explain the structure of methane.

Shape of $C{H}_4$: