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GOB Chemistry: VSEPR and Molecular Shape

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Terms in this set (20)

  • What does VSEPR stand for?

    VSEPR stands for Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory.

  • What is the main idea of VSEPR theory?

    Electron pairs around a central atom repel each other and arrange to minimize repulsion, determining molecular shape.

  • What determines the shape of a molecule in VSEPR theory?

    The number of bonding and lone electron pairs around the central atom determines the molecular shape.

  • What is the molecular shape when there are 2 bonding pairs and 0 lone pairs?

    The shape is linear with a bond angle of 180°.

  • What is the shape of a molecule with 3 bonding pairs and 0 lone pairs?

    The shape is trigonal planar with bond angles of 120°.

  • What shape results from 2 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair?

    The shape is bent or angular, with bond angles slightly less than 120°.

  • Describe the shape with 4 bonding pairs and 0 lone pairs.

    The shape is tetrahedral with bond angles of 109.5°.

  • What is the shape for 3 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair?

    The shape is trigonal pyramidal with bond angles slightly less than 109.5°.

  • What shape does 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs produce?

    The shape is bent with bond angles around 104.5°.

  • What is the shape for 5 bonding pairs and 0 lone pairs?

    The shape is trigonal bipyramidal with bond angles of 90° and 120°.

  • Describe the shape with 6 bonding pairs and 0 lone pairs.

    The shape is octahedral with bond angles of 90°.

  • How do lone pairs affect bond angles in VSEPR theory?

    Lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs, reducing bond angles between atoms.

  • Why do electron pairs repel each other in VSEPR theory?

    Electron pairs repel due to their negative charges, seeking to maximize distance to minimize repulsion.

  • What is the difference between electron pair geometry and molecular geometry?

    Electron pair geometry includes all electron pairs; molecular geometry considers only atoms.

  • What shape does a molecule with 4 electron pairs and 1 lone pair have?

    The shape is see-saw if 5 electron pairs total, or distorted tetrahedral if 4 pairs total.

  • How does VSEPR theory help predict molecular polarity?

    By determining shape, VSEPR shows if dipoles cancel or add, predicting molecular polarity.

  • What is the shape of a molecule with 3 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs?

    The shape is t-shaped with bond angles less than 90°.

  • What is the shape of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and 3 lone pairs?

    The shape is linear with bond angles of 180°.

  • What is the effect of multiple bonds on VSEPR shape?

    Multiple bonds count as one electron domain but can slightly affect bond angles due to increased electron density.

  • How many electron domains are around the central atom in a trigonal bipyramidal shape?

    There are 5 electron domains around the central atom.