Talk:Square pyramidal molecular geometry

Diagram misleading
The picture shows 5 coplanar atoms in the base of the pyramid.This is not implicit in C4v point group. The central atom often sits above the plane of the basal atoms. Could someone tweak the picture to move the central atom above the base? --Axiosaurus (talk) 09:55, 22 January 2008 (UTC) Sorry should have been more precise- the central atom rarely sits in the plane. See BrF5 where it sits above it. Picture can be tweaked to move the central atom in either direction.--Axiosaurus (talk) 10:03, 22 January 2008 (UTC)

Not all square pyramidal species have lone pairs
The geometry describes the position of the atoms. Electron lone pairs are not observed only inferred. Existence of lone pairs is not a necessary condition for square pyramidal geometry- it just happens to be a common phenomenon. (By the way-lone pairs are not always sterically active-see inert pair effect)--Axiosaurus (talk) 10:23, 22 January 2008 (UTC)