MOLECULAR MOLECULAR GEOMETRY GEOMETRY

MOLECULAR GEOMETRY

MOLECULAR GEOMETRY

VSEPR
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory.
Most important factor in determining geometry is relative repulsion between electron pairs.

VSEPR
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory.
Most important factor in determining geometry is relative repulsion between electron pairs. Molecule Molecule adopts adopts the the shape shape that that minimizes minimizes the the electron electron pair pair repulsions . repulsions.

No. of e- Pairs Around Central Atom 2

Example FBeF 180 F

Geometry linear

No. of e- Pairs Around Central Atom 2

Example FBeF 180

Geometry linear

No. of e- Pairs Around Central Atom 2

Example FBeF 180 F

Geometry linear

3 F

B F 120 H 109

planar trigonal

F 3 F 120 H 109 4 C H H H B F

planar trigonal

3 F

B F 120 H 109

planar trigonal

4 C H H H

4 tetrahedral H C H H

tetrahedral

tetrahedral

Page 1

No. of e- Pairs Around Central Atom 2

Example FBeF 180 F

Geometry linear

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

Ammonia, NH 3 H 1. Draw electron dot structure 2. Count BPs and LPs = 4 3. The 4 electron pairs are at the corners of a tetrahedron .
N H H H lone pair of electrons in tetrahedral position

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

Ammonia, NH 3 There are 4 electron pairs at the corners of a tetrahedron.

N H H

3 F

B F 120 H 109

planar trigonal

H N H H
H

N H H

lone pair of electrons in tetrahedral position

4 C H H H

tetrahedral

The ELECTRON PAIR GEOMETRY is tetrahedral . tetrahedral.

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

Ammonia, NH 3 The electron pair geometry is tetrahedral.
lone pair of electrons in tetrahedral position H H

10

11

12

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

Water, H 2O 1. Draw electron dot structure 2. Count BPs and LPs = 4 3. The 4 electron pairs are at the corners of a tetrahedron.
O O H H H H

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

Water, H 2O

H O H

H O H

O O H H H H

N H

The The electron electron pair pair geometry geometry is is TETRAHEDRAL TETRAHEDRAL

The The MOLECULAR MOLECULAR GEOMETRY GEOMETRY the the positions positions of of the the atoms atoms is is PYRAMIDAL PYRAMIDAL..

The The electron electron pair pair geometry geometry is is TETRAHEDRAL. TETRAHEDRAL.

The The molecular molecular geometry geometry is is BENT. BENT . BENT.

Page 2

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

Formaldehyde, CH 2O 1. Draw electron dot structure

13

14

15

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

H
Formaldehyde, CH 2O

Structure Determination by VSEPR

Methanol, CH 3OH Define bond angles 1 and 2 Angle 1 = 109 o Angle 2 = 109 o In both cases the atom is surrounded by 4 electron pairs.
H HCOH 109 H 109

2. Count BPs and LPs = 3 3. There are 3 electron pairs are at the corners of a planar triangle.

H C

O C

The The electron electron pair pair geometry geometry is is PLANAR PLANAR TRIGONAL TRIGONAL

O C

The The electron electron pair pair geometry PLANAR geometry is is PLANAR PLANAR o TRIGONAL TRIGONAL with with120 120o bond bond angles. angles.

The The molecular molecular geometry geometry is is also also planar planar trigonal. trigonal . trigonal.

16

17

18

Structure Structure Determination Determination by by VSEPR VSEPR

Acetonitrile , CH 3CN
H

Phenylalanine, Phenylalanine, an amino acid

H C H C C H C H 1 C C H H 2 H C H C N H O C H 5 3 O 4 H

Phenylalanine Phenylalanine

Define unique bond angles HCC N H-C-H = 109 o 109 H 180 C-C-N = 180 o One C is surrounded by 4 electron lumps and the other by 2 lumps

Page 3

19

20

21

Structures Structures with with Central Central Atoms Atoms with with More More Than Than or or Less Less Than Than 4 4 Electron Electron Pairs Pairs

Central Central Atoms Atoms With With Fewer Fewer Than Than 4 4 Electron Electron Pairs Pairs
Often occurs with Group 3A elements and with those of 3rd period and higher. Consider boron trifluoride trifluoride, , BF3

Boron Boron Compounds Compounds

Consider boron trifluoride trifluoride, , BF The 3 B atom is surrounded by only 3 electron pairs. Bond angles are 120 o Geometry described

F B

planar trigonal
as

22

23

24

Compounds Compounds with with 5 5 or or 6 6 Pairs Pairs Around Around the the Central Central Atom Atom

Compounds Compounds with with 5 5 or or 6 6 Pairs Pairs Around Around the the Central Central Atom Atom
90 F F P F Trigonal bipyramid F F 120 5 electron pairs

Compounds Compounds with with 5 5 or or More More Pairs Pairs Around Around the the Central Central Atom Atom
90 F F P F 90
6 electron pairs

Trigonal bipyramid F F F S F Octahedron F F 90 120 5 electron pairs

F F

Page 4

25

26

27

Sulfur , SF Tetrafluoride Sulfur Tetrafluoride, Tetrafluoride, SF4 4

Number of valence electrons = Central atom = Dot structure

Sulfur , SF Tetrafluoride Sulfur Tetrafluoride, Tetrafluoride, SF4 4

Number of valence electrons = 34 Central atom = S Dot structure

Sulfur , SF Tetrafluoride Sulfur Tetrafluoride, Tetrafluoride, SF4 4

Number of valence electrons = 34 Central atom = S F Dot structure

F S F F F

F
Electron pair geometry = ?

28

29

Sulfur , SF Tetrafluoride Sulfur Tetrafluoride, Tetrafluoride, SF4 4

Number of valence electrons = 34 Central atom = S Dot structure Electron pair geometry = trigonal bipyramid (because there are 5 pairs around the S)

Sulfur , SF Tetrafluoride Sulfur Tetrafluoride, Tetrafluoride, SF4 4

Lone pair is in the equator because it requires more room.
90 F S F 120 F F 120

F S F F F
90 F S F F F

F F F S F

Page 5