Steric number

or number of
electron-pair around
VSEPR
the central atom
Valence-Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion
1 and the molecular shape
Linear linear
angle: 180° LiH
hybridization: sp AX2
When a molecule has lone pairs and is
Double-bond and made of atoms with different electro-
negativities then the molecule has a
2 triple-bond "count"
as a single pair of
electron
dipole moment (polar molecule)
Exceptions square or linear molecules
like : AX2E3 , AX4E2 , AX2E4
Linear linear
angle: 180° CO2
hybridization: sp2 AX3 AX2E

When an electron lone-pair is present in a molecule any

angles < 120°, are distorted (they become smaller)
3 Example: NH3 1 lone pair: angle = 109.5 becomes 107°
H2O 2 lone pairs: angle = 109.5 becomes 104.5°

Trigonal planar trigonal planar bent

angle: 120° BF3 SO2
hybridization: sp3 AX4 AX3E AX2E2

4
other representations
Tetrahedral tetrahedral trigonal pyramidal bent of the tetrahedral shape
angle: 109.5° Ex: CH4 Ex: NH3 Ex: H2O
hybridization: sp3d AX5 AX4E AX3E2 AX2E3
For a trigonal
bipyramidal shape

5 the lone-pairs are

always placed in
the equatorial
position
Trigonal bipyramidal trigonal bipyramidal seesaw T-shaped linear
angles: 120° / 90° -
PF5 SF4 ClF3 I3
hybridization:
sp3d2 AX6 AX5E AX4E2 AX3E3 AX2E4

6
Octahedral Octahedral Square pyramidal Square planar T-shaped linear
angle: 90° SF6 BrF5 KrF4 XeF3- unknown

0 1 2 3 4
number of electron lone-pairs