Question #1e11d

1 Answer
Ernest Z.
Aug 21, 2017

Here's how I see it.

Explanation:

We can think of the HgI-3 as being formed by the reaction

Hg2++3I-→HgI-3

The electron configuration of a neutral Hg atom is

Hg0=[Xe] 6s24f145d10

For Hg2+, the electron configuration is

Hg2+=[Xe] 4f145d10

The Hg2+ ion, however, has vacant 6s and 6p orbitals.

It can hybridize a 6s and two of the 6p orbitals to form three new vacant sp3 hybrid orbitals.

These can each overlap with a filled 5p orbital of an iodide ion.

Thus, the new ion is trigonal planar, and the Hg-I bonds are coordinate covalent bonds in which the iodide ions are contributing both electrons of the covalent bond.

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