Molecular Geometry

VSEPR and
Molecular Shape
General Chemistry 11/2

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Molecular Shapes
Lewis Structures
● represent how atoms
share their valence
electrons and form bonds
to create a molecule.
● does not show molecular
shape
2
Molecular Shapes
Molecular Shape/Geometry
● 3D structure of a molecule
● defined by bond angles
3
Molecular Shapes
Molecular geometry is the three-

dimensional structure of atoms in a
molecule. The physical and chemical
properties of molecules are affected by
their geometry. It can be predicted using
Lewis structure and VSEPR theory.
4
Molecular Shapes
• VSEPR theory states that to minimize

repulsion, each group of the outermost
electrons stays away as possible from each
other. This results in a five-electron group
arrangement.
• Electron Group may comprise of a single bond,
a double bond, a triple bond, or a lone pair.
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Molecular Shapes
Molecular Shape
● solid lines: in-plane
● wedge lines: out-of-plane
○ solid wedge: towards you
○ dashed wedge: away from
you
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Molecular Shapes
Five Basic Geometric Shapes that ABn molecules
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Molecules with No Lone Pairs in the Central Atom

To make it simple, we will consider molecules with only two
elements, A, as the central atom, and X, as the terminal atom. These
molecules have the general formula of AXm, where m is an integer 2-6.
Table 2 shows the possible arrangement of electron pairs around the central
atom.
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Molecules with One or More Lone Pairs in the Central Atom
The molecular geometry of molecules having one or more lone pairs around
the central atoms is affected by the presence of the three repulsive forces.
These repulsive forces are between bonding pairs (BP), between lone pairs
(LP), and between bonding pairs (BP) and lone pairs (LP). According to
VSEPR theory, generally, repulsive forces decrease in the following order:
LP vs LP Repulsion > LP vs BP Repulsion > BP vs BP Repulsion
Based on the order of repulsive forces, lone pairs repel other pairs more
strongly than bonding pairs and thus resulted in a distorted bond angle from
those of the ideal geometry.
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Molecules with One or More Lone Pairs in the Central Atom
In addition, it is important to note that the overall

arrangement of electron pairs in molecules having
one or more lone pairs around the central atom
differs from that of molecular geometry. The
electron arrangement in the central atom is described
in terms of the bonding pairs and the lone pairs while
the molecule’s geometry is described in terms of the
bonding pairs only.
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The VSEPR Model
Valence-Shell Electron-Pair
Repulsion Model
● bonds orient themselves in a
way that minimizes repulsions
between electron domains
○ bonding pairs
○ lone pairs (nonbonding
pairs)
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The VSEPR Model
Valence-Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion Model

● electron domain geometry: arrangement of electron
domains in 3D space
● molecular geometry: arrangement of atoms in the
molecule.
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The VSEPR Model
No. of Electron- No. of

Electron Domain Bonding No. of Lone Molecular
Domains Geometry Domains Pairs Geometry
2 2 0
3 3 0
2 1
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The VSEPR Model

4 4 0
3 1
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The VSEPR Model

4 2 2
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The VSEPR Model

5 5 0
4 1
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The VSEPR Model

5 3 2
2 3
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The VSEPR Model

6 6 0
5 1
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The VSEPR Model

6 4 2
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Geometry of Molecules with One or More Lone Pairs
in the Central Atom
Geometry of Molecules with One or More Lone Pairs
in the Central Atom
Steps
23
Steps
24
Steps
25
Steps
26
Steps
27
The VSEPR Model
Effect of Nonbonding Electrons and Multiple Bonds on

the Shapes and Bond Angles of Molecules
● Repulsions:
○ bonding pair-bonding pair < lone pair-bonding pair
< lone pair-lone pair
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Practice
Direction: Answer the following questions in your

notebook. Show the step by step process. Using VSEPR
theory, predict the molecular geometry of the following
molecules of the following:
A. Carbon tetrachloride, CCl4;
B. Ammonia, NH3;
C. Sufur trioxide, SO3;
D. Xenon tetrafluoride, XeF4
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Let’s Sum It Up!
● Bond angles can define the three-dimensional

shape of a molecule.
● Molecules with a general formula of ABn can form
different shapes depending on the value of n.
● There are five basic geometries that an ABn
molecule can have: linear, trigonal planar,
tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and
octahedral.
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Let’s Sum It Up!
● In predicting the shape of a molecule, the

valence-shell electron-pair repulsion (VSEPR)
model is used. The model assumes that electron
pairs surrounding an atom are electron domains
that repel each other.
● Electron domains include bonding electron pairs
and nonbonding electron pairs.
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Let’s Sum It Up!
● According to the VSEPR model, electron domains

orient themselves far away from each other to
minimize repulsion.
● The orientation of electron domains determines
the electron-domain geometry of the molecule
while the molecular geometry of the molecule
only considers the arrangement of atoms and
bonding electrons.
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Let’s Sum It Up!
● Bond angles are affected by nonbonding domains

and multiple bonds. The greater number of
nonbonding domains, the smaller the measure of
the bond angle.
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Molecular Geometry

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Molecular Geometry

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VSEPR and

General Chemistry 11/2

Molecular geometry is the three-

• VSEPR theory states that to minimize

Five Basic Geometric Shapes that ABn molecules

Molecules with No Lone Pairs in the Central Atom

LP vs LP Repulsion > LP vs BP Repulsion > BP vs BP Repulsion

In addition, it is important to note that the overall

Valence-Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion Model

No. of Electron- No. of

No. of Electron- No. of

No. of Electron- No. of

No. of Electron- No. of

No. of Electron- No. of

No. of Electron- No. of

No. of Electron- No. of

Effect of Nonbonding Electrons and Multiple Bonds on

Direction: Answer the following questions in your

● Bond angles can define the three-dimensional

● In predicting the shape of a molecule, the

● According to the VSEPR model, electron domains

● Bond angles are affected by nonbonding domains

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