Please help, I am confused what is being asked, can someone give an explanation

Question

Please help, I am confused what is being asked, can someone give an explanation to what is being asked?

Part of the reasoning that led van't Hoff and Le Bel to propose a tetrahedral shape for Methane, CH4, was based on the number of compounds that are theoretically possible for substituted Methanes; that is, compounds in which one or more hydrogens have been replaced by some other group. For example, only one compound of the type CH2X2 has ever been found. Is this consistent with a tetrahedral shape? With a square planar shape? Provide an explanation for each answer using appropriate diagrams.

Explanation / Answer

yes it is consistant with tetrahedral shape because carbon here can show sp3 hybridization (maximum) and as per VSEPR model tetrahedral shape is most relaxed for this compound eg. CH2Cl2 .   and square planner will be a least stable choice becase bond angle has to be 90 o and there are no lone pairs to sit on axial positions to stabililize the sq. planner shape

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