[HongKongALevelboy]

can anyone explain why the shape of ClF3 is T-shape . All I know is that the repulsion force is in the following order :
lone pair electron and lone pair electron > lone pair electron and bond pair electron > bond pair electron and bond pair electron
why dont the lone pair electrons of Cl stay as far as possible ?
If they stay as far as possible , it should be trigonal planar shape .
thx for any answer

[dexangeles]

there's two types of geoms: electron geom and molecular geom

you have 5 region and two lone pairs right?
maybe you need to draw it to be able to conceptualize it better

e geom will give you a trigonal bipyramidal shape (all electrons are considered, bonded or not)
molecular geom will give you a T-shape (only the bonds with another atom is considered, not the lone pairs)

drawing it three dimensionally will show you the T-shape

[HongKongALevelboy]

sorry , dont understand what u mean  

[AWK]

Read something on VSEPR rules

[Demotivator]

With trigonal planar, you get 6 LP-B at 90 deg angles.
With T shape, 4 LP-B at 90 deg.
That favors T shape. The LP-LP in T is 120 deg which is not so bad.