Molecular+Geometries+of+Species+with+2-4+Electron+Domains


 * Molecular geometry** is the arrangement of the atoms in space. In the VSEPR model, we predict the molecular geometry of a molecule or ion from its electron-domain geometry.

Three Steps to Predict the Shapes of Molecules:
1. Draw the Lewis structure of the molecule or ion, and count the total number of electron domains around the central atom. Each nonbonding electron pair, single bond, double bond, and triple bond counts as an electron domain. 2. Determine the electron-domain geometry by arranging the total number of electron domains so that the repulsions among them are minimized (see pg.319 of the text book). 3. Use the arrangement of the bonded atoms to determine the molecular geometry.

[[image:molecular_shapes2.JPG link="ftp://165.193.130.131/pub/esm/web_marketing/Chem/blb9/ch9.pdf"]]
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