VSEPR Theory

The Shape of Molecules

 Molecular Polarity
• Polar Molecule – molecule that has a definite positive and negative
end.
• A molecule can possess polar bonds and still be nonpolar.
• If the polar bonds are evenly (or symmetrically) distributed, the bond
dipoles cancel and do not create a molecular dipole.
• For example, the three bonds in a molecule of BF3 are significantly
polar, but they are symmetrically arranged around the central boron
atom. (No side of the molecule has more negative or positive charge
than another side, and so the molecule is nonpolar)
• A water molecule is polar because
◘ its O-H bonds are significantly polar
◘ its bent geometry makes the distribution of those polar bonds
asymmetrical.
• The side of the water molecule containing the more electronegative
oxygen atom is partially negative, and the side of the molecule
containing the less electronegative hydrogen atoms is partially positive.
 Try a Few!
• CH4 • Nonpolar molecule
• PCl5 • Nonpolar molecule
• NH3 • Polar Molecule
NH4+1 • Nonpolar Ion
•
• Polar Molecule
• CH3Cl
• Polar Molecule
• H2S
• Polar Molecule
• CO • Nonpolar Molecule
• SF6 • Polar Molecule
• HBr
 VSEPR Theory
• Molecular Geometry – shapes of Molecules.
◘ The shapes of molecules are determined by the
bonding inside the molecules & the electrons in
bonds.
• VSEPR Theory (Valence Shell Electron Pair
Repulsion) – all the electrons in an atom will
repel each other.
◘ Electrons in bonds & nonbonding electron pairs
will spread out as far as possible.
 Shapes of Molecules
# of atoms bonded # of lone pairs of Shape Bond Angle
to central atom electrons

2,3 0 Linear 180°

2 2 Bent 104.5°

3 0 Trigonal planar 120°

3 1 Trigonal pyramidal 107°

4 0 Tetrahedral 109.5°

5 0 Trigonal 90°, 120°

bipyramidal
6 0 Octahedral 90°
Linear
Bent
Trigonal Planar
Trigonal Pyramidal
Tetrahedral
Trigonal Bipyramidal
Octahedral
 Hybrid Orbitals
• Hybrid Orbitals – the shapes of some molecules are best
explained by the orbital hybridization model.
• Orbitals are hybridized when two or more atomic orbitals of
similar energy on the same atom are “mixed” to make the
same amount of new, equivalent hybrid orbitals.
◘ sp – one s and one p orbital are mixed to make 2 sp orbitals
◘ sp2 – one s and two p orbitals are mixed to make 3 sp2 orbitals
◘ sp3 – one s and three p orbitals are mixed to make 4 sp3 orbitals
• Coordinate Compounds: Trigonal bipyramidal &
octahedral molecules.
◘ Middle atom has more than 8 electrons.
 Hybridization
Number of electron pairs Shapes Hybridization
around central atom
(including bonds)

2 Linear sp

3 Trigonal planar sp2

4 Trigonal pyramidal, sp3

tetrahedral, bent
5 Trigonal dsp3
bipyramidal
6 Octahedral d2sp3
 Trivia Time!
Who was the first president to be
born in a hospital?
Jimmy Carter (Born in 1924,
president 1977 – 1980)