1. 6.5 VSEPR Theory and Molecular Shapes
Ch. 6 Bonding
6.5 VSEPR Theory and Molecular Shapes

2. VSEPR Theory V alence S hell E lectron P air R epulsion
repulsion between pairs of electrons around an atom cause them to be as far apart as possible
used to predict the geometry of molecules

3. Molecular Shapes diatomic molecules will always be linear
all other molecules can have different shapes based on the number of charge clouds around the central atom
charge clouds include:
bonding pairs
lone pairs

4. 2 Charge Clouds O = C = O
no lone pairs: linear
CO2

5. - O = S O 3 Charge Clouds no lone pairs: trigonal planar CH2O
1 lone pair: bent
SO2 - O = S O

6. 4 Charge Clouds no lone pairs: CH4 tetrahedral 1 lone pair: NH3
2 lone pairs: H2O bent
1 lone pair: NH3
trigonal
pyramidal

7. 5 Charge Clouds no lone pairs: trigonal bipyramidal PCl5 1 lone pair:
seesaw
SF4

8. 5 Charge Clouds
2 lone pairs: T-shaped
ClF3
3 lone pair:
Linear
I3-

9. 6 Charge Clouds no lone pairs: octahedral SF6 2 lone pairs:
square planar
XeF4
1 lone pair:
square pyramidal
SbCl52- Cl
Cl Sb Cl
Cl Cl