Atetrahedral field presents four sets of ligand electrons, whereas an octahedral field presents six sets of ligand electrons. is the electron repulsion smaller, larger, or roughly the same in the tetrahedral case?

For the tetrahedral case the repulsion is smaller.

Explanation:

It is smaller for the tetrahedral case because he angles for tetrahedral molecules are greater (109.5) then for octahedral molecules (90). The greater the distance between the atoms the smaller the repulsion, and so the bigger are angles the bigger is distance.

what does the table look like

substituting a hydrogen atom with a halogen in a hydrocarbon:

- the single bond remains single. a is wrong.

- the bond with hydrogen is as strong as with a halogen. c is wrong

- a hydrocarbon is saturated if there is no double bond. we do not know that so d is wrong.

- carbon will always have four valence electrons. e is wrong.

by elimination, the correct answer is b. the boiling point of the new compound increases.