Square Planar
What is Square Planar?
Square planar is a molecular geometry in which a central atom is surrounded by four atoms or groups positioned at the corners of a square in the same plane as the central atom, giving bond angles of 90°. It arises from dsp² hybridization and is characteristic of d⁸ metal ion complexes such as [PtCl₄]²⁻ and [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻. The VSEPR prediction for a molecule with four bonding pairs and no lone pairs gives tetrahedral geometry, but electronic factors in transition metal complexes favor the square planar arrangement.
Key Facts
Frequently Asked Questions
Square planar is a molecular geometry in which a central atom is surrounded by four atoms or groups positioned at the corners of a square in the same plane as the central atom, giving bond angles of 90°. It arises from dsp² hybridization and is characteristic of d⁸ metal ion complexes such as [PtCl₄]²⁻ and [Ni(CN)₄]²⁻. The VSEPR prediction for a molecule with four bonding pairs and no lone pairs gives tetrahedral geometry, but electronic factors in transition metal complexes favor the square planar arrangement.