Molecule Shapes Student Handout

Molecule Shapes
MODEL 1:
Molecule Shapes Simulation

(http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/molecule-shapes)
PART I: ELECTRON DOMAINS
1. Explore the Model screen of the simulation. As you explore, answer the following questions.
a. How does adding an atom affect the position of existing atoms or lone pairs?
b. How does adding a lone pair affect the position of existing atoms and lone pairs?
2. Is the effect of adding bonded atoms and lone pairs to the central atom similar? Explain why
this could be the case.
We can think of a bond or a lone pair of electrons as a “domain” of electrons. Single bonds,
double bonds, and triple bonds each count as one domain.
3. How do the electrons in bonds (bonding domains) differ from lone pairs (non-bonding
domains)?
4. What happens to the bond angle when you add or remove an electron domain?
MOLECULE SHAPES 1
5. Can you force the atoms into new configurations by pushing atoms around? What does this
suggest about the configuration of atoms in real molecules?
6. What is the difference between Electron Geometry and Molecule Geometry?
7. In one or two grammatically correct sentences, write a definition for the term Molecule
Geometry.
PART 2: DRAWING MOLECULES TO SHOW 3-DIMENSIONALITY
MODEL 2:
Line, Wedge and Dash Drawings

_____
Line: In the plane of the paper:
Wedge: Coming forward, in front of the plane of the paper:
Dash: Going backward, behind the plane of the paper:
8. Where is each of the 5 atoms in the molecule CHFClBr?
In the plane of the paper ______ ______ ______
In front of the plane of the paper ______
MOLECULAR SHAPES 2
Behind the plane of the paper ______
9. Using the Model screen, add bonding domains (●) to the central atom (○). Using lines, wedges
and dashes from Model 2, draw each molecule’s shape.
Bonding Domains
Drawing of Shape Electron Geometry Bond Angles
Around Central Atom
2 ●─○─● Linear 180º
3 ○
4
○
5
○
6
○
10. In the Model screen, build a molecule with 5 atoms attached to the central atom. Look at the
molecule geometry and electron geometry. Predict what will happen to the molecule
Your Prediction:
geometry as you replace atoms with lone pairs.
MOLECULAR SHAPES 3
11. In the following table draw the molecule geometry. As a group, make a prediction for each
first, and then compare your answers with the simulation.
Predict First, Then Compare with the Simulation
Number of
Domains
1 Lone Pair 2 Lone Pairs 3 Lone Pairs 4 Lone Pairs
Around
Central Atom
MOLECULAR SHAPES 4
PART 3: COMPARING MODEL VS. REAL MOLECULES
12. Explore the Real Molecules screen.
c. List the molecules that show a difference in bond angle between “Real” and “Model”.
Note: differences in bond angle may be small.
Molecule Number of Lone Pair Domains
d. What do all of the molecules in the table have in common?
e. What trend do you observe that distinguishes lone pairs from bonding domains?
13. Use the simulation to build a system with 5 domains. This is

called a trigonal bipyramidal structure. The two different sites in
a trigonal bipyramid are labeled as A and B in the drawing to
the right.
f. Each A atom is adjacent to 3 B atoms. What is the A-C-B

bond angle?
MOLECULAR SHAPES 5
g. Each B atom is adjacent to 2 A atoms and 2 B atoms. What is the B-C-B bond angle.
h. In a system with 4 atoms and 1 lone pair, predict whether the lone pair will be in a B site
or an A site? Explain.
i. Examine the molecule SF4 in the Real Molecules screen to check your prediction from
question c. Which interactions are more important in determining where the lone pair
will go?
EXERCISES:
1. A molecule has 2 double bonds on the central atom and no lone pairs. Predict the electron
geometry. Predict the molecule geometry. What do you think the bond angles would be?
2. For each of the molecules below, determine the electron geometry, molecule geometry, and
bond angles. Draw pictures to show your geometries.
a. CCl4 (4 Cl atoms, no lone pairs on C)
MOLECULAR SHAPES 6
b. PF3 (3 F atoms, 1 lone pair on P)
c. OF2 (2 F atoms, 2 lone pairs on O)
d. I3- (2 I atoms and 3 lone pairs on central I)
3. Use any resources required to add names to all the geometries in the table on page 3.
Challenge Question:
Imagine a molecule with 7 electron domains.
The geometry is called pentagonal bipyramidal. This has a lot of similarities to a 6-coordinate
molecule except there are 5 domains in one plane. Predict the following based on this
information:
a. Draw the structure of a molecule with 7 bonding domains.
b. List all the bond angles possible between adjacent atoms.
c. Predict the electron and molecule geometry for a molecule with 6 bonding domains and a
single lone pair.
d. Predict the electron and molecule geometry for a molecule with 5 bonding domains and
two lone pairs.
MOLECULAR SHAPES 7

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Molecule Shapes

Molecule Shapes Simulation

PART I: ELECTRON DOMAINS

6. What is the difference between Electron Geometry and Molecule Geometry?

PART 2: DRAWING MOLECULES TO SHOW 3-DIMENSIONALITY

Line, Wedge and Dash Drawings

Wedge: Coming forward, in front of the plane of the paper:

Dash: Going backward, behind the plane of the paper:

8. Where is each of the 5 atoms in the molecule CHFClBr?

In the plane of the paper ______ ______ ______

In front of the plane of the paper ______

2 ●─○─● Linear 180º

geometry as you replace atoms with lone pairs.

Predict First, Then Compare with the Simulation

12. Explore the Real Molecules screen.

Molecule Number of Lone Pair Domains

d. What do all of the molecules in the table have in common?

13. Use the simulation to build a system with 5 domains. This is

f. Each A atom is adjacent to 3 B atoms. What is the A-C-B

a. CCl4 (4 Cl atoms, no lone pairs on C)

c. OF2 (2 F atoms, 2 lone pairs on O)

d. I3- (2 I atoms and 3 lone pairs on central I)

Imagine a molecule with 7 electron domains.

a. Draw the structure of a molecule with 7 bonding domains.

b. List all the bond angles possible between adjacent atoms.

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