A bond angle is an angle between two bonds originating from the same atom in a covalent species. When a molecule undergoes sp2 hybridization, the bond angle is 120°. For sp2 hybridized central atoms the only possible molecular geometry is trigonal planar. If all the bonds are in place the shape is also trigonal planar. For example:
- For boron to bond with three fluorine atoms in boron trifluoride (BF3), the atomic s- and p-orbitals in boron’s outer shell mix to form three equivalent sp2 hybrid orbitals.
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