4 - Molecular Geometry

SHAPES
OF
MOLECULE
Molecular Structure
– Molecular geometry is the general shape

of a molecule or the arrangement of
atoms in three dimensional space.
– Physical and chemical properties depend
on the geometry of a molecule.
Lewis Structure
• Shows how valence electrons are arranged

among atoms in a molecule.
• Reflects central idea that stability of a
compound relates to noble gas electron
configuration.
Duet Rule
• Hydrogen forms stable molecules where it

shares two electrons.
Octet Rule
• Elements form stable molecules when

surrounded by eight electrons.
Writing Lewis Structures
• In writing Lewis structures we include only

the valence electrons
• Most important requirement
– Atoms achieve noble gas electron
configuration (octet rule, duet rule)
1. Sum the valence electrons from all the atoms.

2. Determine the central atom
3. Draw a pair of electrons between the central
atom and each bonded atom
4. Fill in the rest of the electrons to satisfy the octet
rule for all elements in the compound
5. Count up all the electrons. Make sure everything
has an octet (duet for hydrogen).
• Step 1: Add up valence electrons
• Eg: H2O
H = 1 valence electron X 2 atoms

O = 6 valence electrons
8 valence electrons
• Step 2: Determine the central atom

–If Carbon is in the compound, it is the
central atom
–If Carbon is NOT present, the LEAST
electronegative element is central
–Hydrogen is NEVER the central atom
• Step 3: Draw a pair of electrons between the

central atom and each bonded atom
–A pair of bonding electrons can be
represented by a dash or two dots
between the bonding atoms
–Bonding pairs are shared between 2 atoms
H :O :H or H–O–H
• Step 4: Fill in the rest of the electrons to

satisfy the octet rule for all elements in the
compound
–Hydrogen must satisfy the duet rule
–Unshared pairs (lone pairs) are not
shared and not involved in bonding
..
H :O :H or
..
• Step 5: Count up all the electrons. Make

sure everything has an octet (duet for
hydrogen)
• If necessary, use two pairs of electrons to

form a double bond between two atoms
• Single bond – covalent bond in which 1 pair of
electrons is shared by 2 atoms
• Double bond – covalent bond in which 2 pairs
of electrons are shared by 2 atoms
– Eg: CO2
• If necessary, use three pairs of electrons to

form a triple bond between two atoms
• Triple bond – covalent bond in which 3 pairs
of electrons are shared by 2 atoms
–Eg: N2
– HCN
H C N
Draw a Lewis structure for each of the

following molecules:
NH3
CO2
CCl4
What are the shape of these
molecules?
Water H2O Ammonia NH3 Methane CH4
Trigonal planar Square planar

Linear
Trigonal pyramidal
Tetrahedral
Angular (Bent) T-shaped See-saw (sawhorse)

VSEPR Theory
Valence Shell Electron Pair
Repulsion
• Electron pairs repel each other
• Molecule is organized to minimized repulsions
 Electron pairs around the central atom stay as far
apart as possible.
Trigonal Trigonal
Linear Planar Tetrahedral Bipyramidal Octahedral
VSEPR Theory
Guide to predicting molecular shape
Step 3
Step 2 Use the atoms

bonded to the
Step 1 Arrange the
central atom to
electron groups
Write the determine the
around the
electron-dot molecular
central atom to
formula for the shape
minimize the
molecule
repulsion
VSEPR Theory
Molecular shape
Molecule Water Carbon dioxide
1. Lewis structure
2. Arrange electron
pairs
Tetrahedral Linear
3. Use the atoms

bonded to the central
atom to determine the
molecular shape Angular (Bent) Linear
VSEPR Theory
Find the molecular shape
Molecule Water, H2O Ammonia, NH3 Methane, CH4
Electron dot
structure
Arrange electron
pairs
Tetrahedral
Use the atoms
bonded to the
central atom to
determine the
molecular shape
Angular
Angles between Predict and compare the value of angles between
bonds bonds in the three molecules. Explain.
VSEPR Theory
Find the molecular shape
Molecule Water, H2O Ammonia, NH3 Methane, CH4
Electron dot
structure
Arrange electron
pairs
Tetrahedral Tetrahedral Tetrahedral
Use the atoms
bonded to the
central atom to
determine the
molecular shape
Trigonal
Angular Tetrahedral
pyramidal
Angles between
104,5o 107o 109,5o
bonds
VSEPR Theory
Effect of non bonding electrons
H
H C H H N H O
H H H H
109.5O 107O 104.5O
• Since electrons in a bond are attracted by two nuclei, they

do not repel as much as lone pairs.
• Therefore, the bond angle decreases as the number of lone
pairs increases
Repulsion strengths
lone pair-lone pair  lone pair-bond pair  bond pair-bond pair
VSEPR Theory
The shape of molecules depends on
• Number of electron pairs around each atom
• Whether these pairs are lone pairs or bonding pairs
VSEPR Theory
Exercise
Find the molecular shape of

• Beryllium flouride, BeF2
• Phosphorus pentachloride, PCl5
• Ethane, C2H6
• Ethene, C2H4

4 - Molecular Geometry

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SHAPES

– Molecular geometry is the general shape

• Shows how valence electrons are arranged

• Hydrogen forms stable molecules where it

• Elements form stable molecules when

• In writing Lewis structures we include only

1. Sum the valence electrons from all the atoms.

• Step 1: Add up valence electrons

H = 1 valence electron X 2 atoms

• Step 2: Determine the central atom

• Step 3: Draw a pair of electrons between the

• Step 4: Fill in the rest of the electrons to

• Step 5: Count up all the electrons. Make

• If necessary, use two pairs of electrons to

• If necessary, use three pairs of electrons to

Draw a Lewis structure for each of the

Water H2O Ammonia NH3 Methane CH4

Trigonal planar Square planar

Angular (Bent) T-shaped See-saw (sawhorse)

Step 2 Use the atoms

3. Use the atoms

• Since electrons in a bond are attracted by two nuclei, they

Find the molecular shape of

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