In
chemistry
Chemistry is the scientific study of the properties and behavior of matter. It is a natural science that covers the elements that make up matter to the compounds made of atoms, molecules and ions: their composition, structure, proper ...
, trigonal planar is a
molecular geometry model with one atom at the center and three atoms at the corners of an
equilateral triangle
In geometry, an equilateral triangle is a triangle in which all three sides have the same length. In the familiar Euclidean geometry, an equilateral triangle is also equiangular; that is, all three internal angles are also congruent to each oth ...
, called peripheral atoms, all in one plane.
In an ideal trigonal planar species, all three ligands are identical and all bond angles are 120°. Such species belong to the
point group
In geometry, a point group is a mathematical group of symmetry operations ( isometries in a Euclidean space) that have a fixed point in common. The coordinate origin of the Euclidean space is conventionally taken to be a fixed point, and every ...
D3h. Molecules where the three ligands are not identical, such as
H2CO, deviate from this idealized geometry. Examples of
molecule
A molecule is a group of two or more atoms held together by attractive forces known as chemical bonds; depending on context, the term may or may not include ions which satisfy this criterion. In quantum physics, organic chemistry, and b ...
s with trigonal planar geometry include
boron trifluoride
Boron trifluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula BF3. This pungent, colourless, and toxic gas forms white fumes in moist air. It is a useful Lewis acid and a versatile building block for other boron compounds.
Structure and bond ...
(BF
3),
formaldehyde
Formaldehyde ( , ) ( systematic name methanal) is a naturally occurring organic compound with the formula and structure . The pure compound is a pungent, colourless gas that polymerises spontaneously into paraformaldehyde (refer to section ...
(H
2CO),
phosgene
Phosgene is the organic chemical compound with the formula COCl2. It is a toxic, colorless gas; in low concentrations, its musty odor resembles that of freshly cut hay or grass. Phosgene is a valued and important industrial building block, esp ...
(COCl
2), and
sulfur trioxide
Sulfur trioxide (alternative spelling sulphur trioxide, also known as ''nisso sulfan'') is the chemical compound with the formula SO3. It has been described as "unquestionably the most important economically" sulfur oxide. It is prepared on an ind ...
(SO
3). Some ions with trigonal planar geometry include
nitrate
Nitrate is a polyatomic ion with the chemical formula . Salts containing this ion are called nitrates. Nitrates are common components of fertilizers and explosives. Almost all inorganic nitrates are soluble in water. An example of an insolu ...
(),
carbonate
A carbonate is a salt of carbonic acid (H2CO3), characterized by the presence of the carbonate ion, a polyatomic ion with the formula . The word ''carbonate'' may also refer to a carbonate ester, an organic compound containing the carbonate ...
(), and
guanidinium (). In organic chemistry, planar, three-connected carbon centers that are trigonal planar are often described as having
sp2 hybridization.
Nitrogen inversion In chemistry, pyramidal inversion (also umbrella inversion) is a fluxional process in compounds with a pyramidal molecule, such as ammonia (NH3) "turns inside out". It is a rapid oscillation of the atom and substituents, the molecule or ion pass ...
is the distortion of pyramidal
amine
In chemistry, amines (, ) are compounds and functional groups that contain a basic nitrogen atom with a lone pair. Amines are formally derivatives of ammonia (), wherein one or more hydrogen atoms have been replaced by a substituent ...
s through a transition state that is trigonal planar.
Pyramidalization is a distortion of this molecular shape towards a
tetrahedral molecular geometry
In a tetrahedral molecular geometry, a central atom is located at the center with four substituents that are located at the corners of a tetrahedron. The bond angles are cos−1(−) = 109.4712206...° ≈ 109.5° when all four substituents a ...
. One way to observe this distortion is in
pyramidal alkenes.
See also
*
AXE method
*
Molecular geometry
*
VSEPR theory
References
External links
3D Chem Chemistry, Structures, and 3D MoleculesIndiana University Molecular Structure Center
{{MolecularGeometry
Stereochemistry
Molecular geometry