It is generally more energetically stable than the edge-bridged tetrahedron and square pyramid geometries.
Transition metals with zero or ten d electrons tend to favor this geometry with D3h symmetry over another geometry with C4v symmetry. Ligands can interconvert via Berry pseudorotation, which may result in equivalence of axial and equatorial ligands. It has been suggested as an intermediate in substitution reactions of square planar platinum-II complexes, and, including lone pairs, is the geometry adopted by sulfur tetrafluoride and the triiodide anion. It is generally more energetically stable than the edge-bridged tetrahedron and square pyramid geometries. FTP identify this geometry that according to VSEPR theory is favored for molecules with five ligands.
Transition metals with zero or ten d electrons tend to favor this geometry with D3h symmetry over another geometry with C4v symmetry.
{trigonal bipyramid}al