What is the molecular shape of a silane molecule, #SiH_4#?

1 Answer
anor277
May 14, 2018

Would it not have the same shape as homologous methane?

Explanation:

#CH_4# consists of FOUR covalent bonds around the central carbon atom...and by VESPER the most stable electronic geometry is that of a tetrahedron. While #Si-H# bonds are necessarily longer, the molecular geometry of silane is still tetrahedral with #/_H-Si-H=109.5^@#...

What about #"germane"#, #GeH_4#?

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