CHEMISTRY

MOLECULAR GEOMETRY
VSEPR Theory (valence shell electron pair repulsion)
The VSEPR theory states that the geometric arrangement of bonded atoms in the central atom of a covalent
compound is determined by the repulsions between electron pairs present in the valence shell of the central atom.

STEPS:
1. Draw the Lewis dots EEXAMPLES:
symbol for each atom in
the molecule.
2. Identify the total
number of electron
pairs in the central
atom and determine
how many bonding
electron and lone pairs.
3. Refer to the table.

Study the table for the list of shapes of simple molecules with their corresponding description. Note that the symbol A
represents the central atom, B represents the attached atoms and E represents nonbonding electrons or lone pairs.

Number of Electron Pairs

Type Shapes Examples
Bonding Nonbonding
Molecules in which the central atom has no nonbonding electron / lone pair
Linear

AB2 2 0 BeCl2

Trigonal Planar

AB3 3 0 BF3

Tetrahedral

AB4 4 0 CH4
 Trigonal Bipyramidal

AB5 5 0 PCl5

Octahedral

AB6 6 0 SF6

Molecules in which the central atom has nonbonding electron / lone pair
Bent

AB2E 2 1 SO2

Trigonal Pyramidal

AB3E 3 1 NH3

Bent

AB2E2 2 2 H2O

Seesaw Distorted Tetrahedron

AB4E 4 1 SF4
 T-shaped

AB3E2 3 2 ClF3

Linear

AB2E3 2 3 XeF2

Square Pyramidal

AB5E 5 1 BrF5

Square Planar

AB4E2 4 2 XeF4