Andrew Rosen

Chapter 9 Molecular Geometry

VSEPR (Valence-Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion): Minimizes electron-pair
repulsion
Electron Domain: A region in which it is most likely to find electrons (bonding pairs
of electrons)
Electron Domain Geometry: Arrangement of electron domains about the central
atom
Molecular Geometry: Arrangement of the atoms in space

Linear:

180

Trigonal Planar:

Tetrahedral:

120

109.5

Trigonal Bipyramid:
(trigonal) - 120

Axial (bipyramid): 90 and 180 Equatorial

Axial Angle: Vertical angle

Octahedral:
Total electron
domain
2
3
3
4
4

pairs
pairs
pairs
pairs
pairs

4 pairs
5 pairs

Equatorial Angle: Horizontal angle

90
Electrondomain
geometry
Linear
Trigonal Planar
Trigonal Planar
Tetrahedral
Tetrahedral

Bonding
domains

Nonbonding
domains

Molecular
geometry

2
3
2
4
3

0
0
1
0
1

Tetrahedral
Trigonal
bipyramid

2
5

2
0

Linear
Trigonal Planar
Bent
Tetrahedral
Trigonal
Pyramid
Bent
Trigonal
bipyramid

Andrew Rosen
5 pairs

Seesaw

T-shaped

Linear

6 pairs
6 pairs

Trigonal
bipyramid
Trigonal
bipyramid
Trigonal
bibyramid
Octahedral
Octahedral

6
5

0
1

6 pairs

Octahedral

Octahedral
Square
pyramid
Square planar

5 pairs
5 pairs

Bent:
tetrahedral

<120 for Trigonal Planar electron domain and <109 (104.5) for

Trigonal Pyramid:

Seesaw:

107

Axial - 90and 180

T-Shaped:

Equatorial - 120

Axial - 90 and 180

Square Pyramid:

90

Square Planar:

90

More than one Central Atom: Split into multiple known structures
Bond Dipole: Dipole moment between 2 atoms in a bond. Its a vector quantity
Hybridization: Orbitals formed by mixing two or more atomic orbitals on an atom
Linear = sp hybrid

Andrew Rosen
Trigonal Planar = sp2 hybrid
Tetrahedral = sp3 hybrid
Trigonal bipyramid = sp3d hybrid
Octahedral = sp3d2 hybrid
Sigma Bond ( : Single bonds and lie on bond axis.
Stronger than pi bonds.
Pi Bond ( ): 2 unhybridized P orbitals overlapping parallel to the bond axis.
Pi bonds break first, and larger atoms form pi bonds less readily
Will only form with sp and sp2 hybrids since it needs an unhybridized p orbital
to be present
Double and Triple bonds produce smaller bond lengths and produce more
repulsion than singles
Example: How many hybridized pairs on CO
:C O:

2 pair on C, and 2 pair on O (dont include pi bonds)

Diamagnetic: No unpaired electrons

Causes substances to be repelled from induced magnetic fields
Paramagnetic: Having unpaired electrons
Causes substances to be attracted into an induced magnetic field
Electrons are not necessarily confined to bonds localized between 2 atoms
The more unpaired electrons, the stronger the force of attraction is
Delocalized Electrons: Molecules with resonance structures that have pi bonds
that can extend over more than two bonded atoms
Usually happens in molecules with pi bonds and more than one resonance
structure