GEOMETRY OF

MOLECULES and
POLARITY of
COMPOUNDS
January 4, 2017
 Review the following concepts:
 a. Lewis structure  i. Polar covalent bond
 b. Covalent bond  j. Electronegativity
 c. Lone pair  k. Percent ionic character
 d. Bond pair  l. Resonance
 e. Single bond  m. Incomplete octet
 f. Double bond  n. Expanded octet
 g. Triple bond
 h. Nonpolar covalent bond
At the end of the lesson, I will be able to:

a. Apply the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion

Theory to predict the geometry of simple molecules.

b. Define dipole moment.

c. Predict the polarity of molecules

Keywords for the concepts to be learned:
 a. Molecular geometry  f. tetrahedral
 b. Valence Shell  g. trigonal bipyramidal
Electron Pair Repulsion  h. octahedral
Theory
 i. dipole moment
 c. Bond angle
 j. polar bond
 d. linear
 k. polar molecule
 e. trigonal planar
Do you know these shapes?

a tetrahedron,
a trigonal bipyramid
an octahedron
 I. MOLECULAR GEOMETRY
What is molecular geometry? Why do we need to
know about the geometry of molecules?
-Molecular geometry pertains to the three-
dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule.
-Geometry affects the physical and chemical
properties of molecules and their reactivity
towards other molecules.
How can we know the geometry
of a molecule?
 Molecular geometry can be determined by
experiment such as x-ray diffraction. However,
the geometry of simple molecules can be
predicted even without experimentation.
 While the results of the prediction is only
qualitative and not as accurate as experiment,
they still help in explaining the properties of
chemical substances.
 What is the basis of the prediction?
 The prediction rests on the assumption that all electron
pairs in the valence shell around a central atom repel one
another.
 They want to be as far apart from one another as possible.
These valence shell electron pairs are the ones involved in
bonding.
 They assume a geometry or orientation that will minimize the repulsions. This is
the stable orientation and the one with lowest energy. This
Valence Shell
approach in predicting molecular geometry is called the

Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR).

 How do we apply the VSEPR theory to
predict molecular geometry?
The key ideas of the VSEPR theory are:

 1. Electron pairs stay as far apart from each other as possible to

minimize repulsions.
 2. Molecular shape is determined by the number of bond pairs and lone pairs
around the central atom.
 3. Treat multiple bonds as if they were single bonds (in making the prediction).
 4. Lone pairs occupy more volume than bond pairs. Lone pair-lone pair
repulsions are greater than lone pair-bond pair repulsions which in turn are
greater than bond pair-bond pair repulsions
 5. Molecular geometry is a very important concept. Try to explain the VSEPR
theory in their own words or even in Filipino.
What are the common orientations of electrons pairs
(bond pairs and lone pairs) that minimize repulsions?
Is the orientation of the electron pair
the same as molecular geometry?
They are not necessarily the same. The
molecular geometry is determined by
the position of the nuclei of the atoms.

We do not “see” lone pairs.

II. MOLECULAR GEOMETRY OF SAMPLE
MOLECULES
 For this lesson, the following notation is adopted: A
refers to the central atom and X refers to another
atom bonded to it.
 If there are lone pairs attached to the central
atom, this is indicated by the letter E.
 Hence, AX2E2 means that A has two atoms of X
bonded to it and A also has two lone pairs of
electrons.
1. Predict the molecular geometry of the molecule BeCl2.
This is of the type AX2.
a. The first thing to do before we can predict the molecular
geometry is to draw the Lewis structure of the molecule. This is
shown below:

b. How many bond pairs surround the central atom of Be?

Two bond pairs surround Be.
c. How will two electron pairs orient themselves such that they will
be as far apart from one another as possible?
Remember VSEPR Theory says they repel one another. To minimize
repulsion, the two electron pairs will be arranged in a linear
arrangement as shown above.
1. Predict the molecular geometry of the molecule BeCl2.
This is of the type AX2.
d. What is the molecular geometry?
The molecular geometry is determined by the
arrangement of the nuclei of the atoms in the
molecule. The molecular geometry of BeCl2 is
linear.
e. What is the Cl-Be-Cl bond angle?
It will be 180o.
 2. Predict the molecular geometry of CO2. This is
also of the type AX2 but with double bonds.
 a.
In determining molecular geometry, always start with the
Lewis structure.

 b.How many electron pairs are around the central atom of

carbon?
We have indicated earlier that in applying the VSEPR
theory, we will treat multiple bonds to be like single
bonds.
Therefore, there will be two pairs around carbon.
 2. Predict the molecular geometry of CO2. This is
also of the type AX2 but with double bonds.
c. What will be the orientation of the electron
pairs:
Answer: Linear
d. What will be the molecular geometry of CO2?
Answer: Linear
e. What will be the O – C – O bond angle?
Answer: 180o.
 3. Predict the molecular geometry of the
molecule BCl3. This is of the type AX3.
 a. Again, the first step is to get the Lewis structure.
 b. How many bond pairs surround the central atom of
boron?
Three bond pairs surround B.
 c. How will three electron pairs orient themselves
such that they will be as far apart from one another
as possible?
 3. Predict the molecular geometry of the
molecule BCl3. This is of the type AX3.
To minimize repulsion, the two electron pairs will be arranged in a
trigonal planar arrangement as shown above.

 d.What is the molecular geometry?

The molecular geometry of BCl3 is trigonal planar. This is a
flat molecule as shown in the figure on the right above.

 e. What is the Cl – B – Cl bond angle?

The bond angle is 120o.
4. Predict the molecular geometry of ozone, O3.
This molecule is of the type AX2E.
a. Lewis structure

For predicting geometry, we may use only one of the resonance

structures.

b. Number of electron pairs around central oxygen atom (treat

multiple bonds as single bonds):
three electron pairs
c. Orientation of three electron pairs: trigonal planar
4. Predict the molecular geometry of ozone, O3.
This molecule is of the type AX2E.
d. Molecular geometry:
bent
We only use the positions of the nuclei of the atoms. We
are unable to “see” the lone pair.
Therefore, the molecular geometry is bent.!!
The lone pair occupies more volume and pushes the bond
pair closer. Therefore, the bond angle is
slightly less than 120o.
 5. Predict the molecular geometry of the
molecule methane, CH4. This is of the type AX4.
 a. Draw the Lewis structure of methane.
 b. Methane has four bonding pairs of electrons around C.
 c.The bonding pairs will arrange themselves to be as far
apart from one another as possible. This is achieved
through a tetrahedral arrangement where the four H
atoms are at the corners of a tetrahedron.
 d. The molecular geometry is tetrahedral.
 e. The H-C-H bond angle is 109.5o.
 6. Predict the geometry and bond angles in
ammonia, NH3. This molecule is of the type AX3E.
a. Draw the Lewis structure.
b. NH3 has three bond pairs and one lone pair around
nitrogen.
c. The electron pairs are arranged in a tetrahedral
orientation.
d. Since the lone pair is not considered, the molecular
geometry is pyramid.

e. Again, since the lone pair occupies more volume, it will

push the bond pair in and the resulting H-N-H bond angle is
slightly less than 109.5. Experimental results show it is 107o.
7. Predict the molecular geometry of
water, H2O. This is of the type AX2E2.
a. Draw the Lewis structure of water.
b. There are four electron pairs around the central atom:
two bond pairs and two lone pairs.
c. The electron pairs are tetrahedrally oriented.
d. The molecular geometry is bent.
e. Because there are two lone pairs occupying more volume and
pushing in the bond pairs, the H-O-H bond angle is less than 1200.
Experiment shows this to be 104.5o. This is smaller than the
bond angle in NH3. Remember that lone pair-lone pair repulsions >
lone pair-bond pair repulsions > bond pair-bond pair repulsions.
8. Predict the molecular geometry
of PF5. This is of the type AX5.
 a. Draw the Lewis structure of PF5.
 b. There are five electron pairs around
phosphorus.
 c. The orientation of the five electron pairs is
trigonal bipyramidal.
 d. The molecular geometry is
trigonal bipyramidal.
 e. The bond angles are 90o and 120o.
 9. Predict the molecular geometry of
SF6. This is of the type AX6.
a. Draw the Lewis structure of SF6.
b. There are six electron pairs around S.
c. The electrons pairs are oriented in an
octahedral manner.
d. The molecular geometry is octahedral.

e. The bond angles are 90o and 180o.

Exercises
1. Using the VSEPR theory, give the electron
pair orientation and predict the geometry of
the following:
a. CH3I
b. SiH4
c. NF3
d. SCN– (C is the middle atom)
e. H2S
2. Give the bond angles for the molecules given in #1.

3. The molecule, acetone, has the following Lewis

structure.
a. What is the geometry of the first carbon?
b. What are the bond angles around the first carbon?
c. What is the geometry of the middle carbon?
d. What are the bond angles around the middle carbon?
Dipole Moments and Polarity of Molecules
As earlier discussed in polar covalent bonds, the electrons are not
equally shared by the bonding atoms. Instead, there is a shift in
electron density towards the move electronegative atom. Such is the case
with the bond in HF. This shift is symbolized by a crossed arrow ( ) with the
arrow pointing toward the direction of the shift.

The polarity of the bond can be experimentally measured in terms of the

dipole moment, µ.
By definition, the dipole moment is the product of the charge, Q, and
the distance between the charges, r. To maintain neutrality, the charges
on the ends of the molecule must be equal in magnitude but opposite in sign.
Polar molecules exhibit dipole moments. In the
presence of an electric field, the positive end of
the molecules orient themselves towards the
negative plate. Nonpolar molecules have no dipole
moments. Remember to distinguish between polar
bonds versus polar molecules. Some molecules have
polar bonds but are not polar. The molecular
geometry determines whether the molecule is polar
or not.
The unit of the dipole moment is in terms of the
Debye¸D¸"where 1 D = 3.336 x 10-30 C m.
 1. Is carbon dioxide a polar molecule or not?
To answer this, first determine the Lewis structure followed by the
molecular geometry. Then determine the net dipole moment for the
molecule.

Dipole moments are vector quantities; they have magnitude and

direction. CO2 has a linear geometry. The C O bond is polar with the
oxygen end as the - end. But the dipole moment vectors are equal in
magnitude but point to opposite directions. Hence, they cancel out
each other. The resultant dipole moment is zero. Therefore, CO2 is
a nonpolar molecule. This is an example where you have a polar
bond but the resulting molecule is nonpolar.
2. Is ammonia a polar molecule? Is so,
which is the partially negative end?
Again draw the Lewis structure and determine the
molecular geometry. The molecular geometry of ammonia
is pyramidal. Because N is more electronegative than H,
the N H bond is polar with the N end as the more
negative end. The three dipole moment vectors point
towards N. There is a resultant dipole moment. The
nitrogen end is the - end. Therefore, NH3 is a polar
molecule; the N end is the - end. (The space-filling model
for NH3 and its resultant dipole moment equal to 1.9113
Debye pointing towards the nitrogen end.)
3. Is NF3 polar? If so, which end is
partially negative?

The molecular geometry of NF3 is pyramidal

like NH3. However, in NF3 the F atoms are more
electronegative than N; therefore, the dipole
moment vectors point towards the F atoms.
NF3 is a polar molecule; the F end is partially
negative while the N end is partially positive.
4. Is water, H2O polar? Which is the
partially negative end?

The molecular geometry of water is

bent. The oxygen is more
electronegative than hydrogen; the
dipole moment vectors point toward
oxygen. Water is a polar molecule; the
oxygen end is the partially negative end.
For H2O = 2.0967 D
5. Is carbon tetrachloride, CCl4, polar?
What is the partially negative end?

CCl4 is nonpolar. The

dipole moment vectors
cancel each other out. For
CCl4 = 0.
6. Determine the polarity of the following
molecules. If polar, determine the partially
negative end.

a. CH4
b. H2CCl2
c. BF3
d. H2S
7. Arrange the following molecules
according to increasing polarity:

HF, HCl, HBr, HI.

What is the importance of knowing the
polarity of a compound/molecule?

 Next stop: QUIZ TIME

1. Which statement correctly describes the Valence
Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) Theory?
 A. The valence shell electrons are given by the
group number in the periodic table.
 B. The valence shell electrons are the outermost
electrons of the atom that are involved in
bonding.
 C. The valence shell electron pairs repel one
another and tend to stay as far apart as possible.
 D. The valence shell electron pairs are the lone
pairs of the atom.
 E. A and B
2. It is important to know the geometry of a
molecule because the geometry
_________________.
A. will give the Lewis structure of the molecule
B. affects the physical and chemical properties
of the substance
C. will determine whether the molecule is ionic
or covalent
D. B and C
E. A, B, and C
3. If there are four (4) electron pairs around the
central atom of a molecule, these electron pairs
are in a _________________ arrangement.

A. linear
B. trigonal planar
C. trigonal pyramidal
D. octahedral
E. tetrahedral
4. The geometry of the molecule NF3 is

A. linear
B. tetrahedral
C. pyramidal
D. trigonal planar
E. bent
 5. The molecule boron trifluoride, BF3,
assumes a trigonal planar geometry with
boron as the central atom. Which statement
correctly describes the polarity of the B-F
bond and the polarity of the molecule?
A. The B-F bond is polar; the BF3 molecule is nonpolar.
B. The B-F bond is nonpolar; the BF3 molecule is nonpolar.
C. The B-F bond is nonpolar; the BF3 molecule is polar.
D. The B-F bond is polar; the BF3 molecule is polar.
E. The polarity cannot be determined.
6. The H - SH bond angle in H2S is
approximately

A. 90o
B. 180o
C. 109.5o
D. 120o
E. 360o
7. Which of the following species will
exhibit tetrahedral geometry?

A. CCl4
B. CO3 2 -
C. O3
D. PCl5
E. SF6
8. Which of the following types of
molecules always has a dipole moment?

A. Linear molecules with two identical bonds.

B. Tetrahedral molecules (four identical
bonds equally spaced).
C. Trigonal planar molecules (three identical
bonds equally spaced).
D. A and B
E. None will have a dipole moment
9. If a compound has a polar bonds, then
I. It is polar overall.
II. There is an electronegativity difference between the bonded atoms.
III. It is ionic.
IV. It doesn't have resonance.
A. II only
B. II, IV
C. I, II, IV
D. I, III
E. All of the above statements are correct.
10. Predict the geometry and polarity of
the CS2 molecule.

A. linear, nonpolar
B. linear, nonpolar
C. tetrahedral, polar
D. bent, polar
E. bent, nonpolar
ACTIVITY: DEMONSTRATION ON THE
POLARITY OF WATER
 Materials

 1. Plastic cup with a small hole at the bottom

or a plastic bottle of water with a hole at the
bottom
 2. PVC pipe
 3. Comb
 4. Ballpen or balloon
 5. Receptacle to catch the water
Procedure
1. Assemble the plastic cup on a ring stand or holder about 12
inches above the table. Place a receptacle beneath the cup to
catch the flowing water.
2. Pour water into the plastic cup with a hole at the bottom.
3. Rub the PVC pipe or any of the given objects against your
hair or any surface so that it becomes charged.
4. Bring the charged pipe near the stream of water. Observe
what happens to the stream of water.
5. Repeat the process by using other objects (ballpen, balloon
and comb) and observe also what happens to the stream of
water.
Answer the following questions

1. What happens to the stream of

water as the charged object comes
near it?
2. Why is water attracted to a charged
object?