VSEPR

Predicting Molecular Geometry and Hybridization

Electron
Groups

Bonding
Groups

Lone
Pairs

Linear
(sp)

Linear
(AX 2 )

Approximate
Bond Angles
180

Trigonal Planar
(AX 3 )
Trigonal Planar

Electron Geometry Molecular Geometry

(Hybridization)
(VSEPR class)

120

(sp 2 )
2

Bent
(AX 2 E)

Tetrahedral
(AX 4 )

Tetrahedral
(sp 3 )

Trigonal Pyramidal
(AX 3 E)

Bent
(AX 2 E 2 )

109.5

Geometry
Examples

Electron
Groups

Bonding
Groups

Lone
Pairs

Trigonal Bipyramidal
(AX 5 )

Seesaw
(AX 4 E)

4
5

Electron Geometry Molecular Geometry

(Hybridization)
(VSEPR class)

Trigonal
Bipyramidal
(sp 3 d)

T-Shaped
(AX 3 E 2 )

Linear
(AX 2 E 3 )

Octahedral
(AX 6 )

Square Pyrimidal
(AX 5 E)

T-Shaped
(AX 3 E 3 )

Linear
(AX 2 E 4 )

Octahedral
3

(sp d )

Square Planar
(AX 4 E 2 )

Approximate
Bond Angles

120 (in plane)

90 (above and
below)

180

90

Geometry
Examples