Molecule Shapes (VSEPR Theory)
References
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Simulations
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Tutorial Videos on Molecule Shapes
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VSEPR - Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion
- Valence electrons (those in the outermost shell a.k.a. energy level) are involved in chemical bonding
- Valence electrons can be found in one of two types of electron regions:
- bonding region - electrons shared between two atoms
- lone pair region - group of 2 valence electrons that are not in a bond (a.k.a. not shared - attracted only to the center atom in the molecule)
- Electron regions repel one another due to similar charge
- Electron regions around the center atom in a molecule repel and move as far apart from one another as possible
- This REPULSION determines the shape of a molecule
![Picture](/uploads/5/1/3/6/5136424/published/linear.png?1484413935)
Linear
One Bonding Region
OR
Two Bonding Regions
One Bonding Region
OR
Two Bonding Regions
![Picture](/uploads/5/1/3/6/5136424/published/trigonal-planar.png?1484412812)
Trigonal Planar
Three Bonding Regions
Three Bonding Regions
![Picture](/uploads/5/1/3/6/5136424/tetrahedral.png?250)
Tetrahedral
Four Bonding Regions
Four Bonding Regions
![Picture](/uploads/5/1/3/6/5136424/trigonal-pyramidal_orig.png)
Trigonal Pyramidal
3 Bonding Regions + 1 Lone Pair
3 Bonding Regions + 1 Lone Pair
![Picture](/uploads/5/1/3/6/5136424/published/bent.png?1484413659)
Bent
2 Bonding Regions + 1 Lone Pair
OR
2 Bonding Regions + 2 Lone Pairs
2 Bonding Regions + 1 Lone Pair
OR
2 Bonding Regions + 2 Lone Pairs