Molecular Shapes Project

Jill Brown
Linear Bond Angle: 180 degrees

Example: Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Shared Electron Pairs: 2

Lone Pairs on Central Atom: 0

O C O Polarity: nonpolar molecule

Bent Bond Angle: <120 degrees

Example: Water (H2O)

Shared Electron Pairs: 1

O Lone Pairs on Central Atom: 2

Polarity: polar molecule

H H
Trigonal Planar Bond Angle: 120 degrees

Example: Boron trifluoride (BF3)

Shared Electron Pairs: 1

F
Lone Pairs on Central Atom: 0

Polarity: Nonpolar molecule

B
F F
Trigonal Pyramidal Bond Angle: <109 degrees

Example: Ammonia (NH3)

Shared Electron Pairs: 1

Lone Pairs on Central Atom: 1

N
Polarity: Polar molecule

H H
H
Tetrahedral Bond Angle: 109 degrees

Example: Methane (CH4)

H Shared Electron Pairs: 1

Lone Pairs on Central Atom: 0

Polarity: Nonpolar molecule

H C H

H
Polar Geometries Definition: one end of a molecule is
more positive and one is more negative

Found in bonded nonmetals (excluding

diatomic pairs)
Nonpolar Definition: molecules have a more
symmetrical distribution of the same
Geometries charge

Found in diatomic pairs