Valence Shell Electron

Pair Repulsion

VSEPR Theory
Molecular Shape
VSEPR theory assumes that the shape of a molecule is
determined by the repulsion of electron pairs.
 VSEPR Theory
• Based on Electron Dot (Lewis structures)

• VSEPR (“vesper”) stands for Valence Shell Electron Pair

Repulsion

• Theory predicts shapes of compounds (abbreviated VSEPR)

• VSEPR predicts shapes based on electron pairs repelling (in

bonds or by themselves)

• Electrons around central nucleus repel each other.

• So, structures have atoms maximally spread out
 VSEPR overview
• Each shape has a name (you will have to know these)
• Names of Shapes:

• Tetrahedral

• trigonal pyramidal

• Bent

• Linear

• trigonal planar
Electron-group geometry is determined by the number of
electron groups. (Some acceptation)

Number of electron groups Name of electron group geometry

2 linear

3 trigonal-planar

4 tetrahedral

5 trigonal-bipyramidal

6 octahedral
 methane, CH4

Tetrahedral
109.5°

Bonds are all evenly spaced electrons

 ..

..
.. ..

Less repulsion between the

bonding pairs of electrons

ammonia
Trigonal Pyramidal
NH3
 .. ..
..
2 bp, 2 Lp
4 bp, No Lp 3 bp, 1 Lp
water, H2O

109.5° (109.5°) 109.5° (107°) 109.5° (104.5°)

Water is a bent molecule with bond angles of 104.5°
Notice – the bond angle decreases as the number of non-bonding
pairs increases

Bent or V
2 unshared pairs (Lp)of e’s at top of O repel bonds and force them to bend
Ozone
O3 ; number of valence electrons = 18 electrons

Resonance structures

AB3 - classification
Shape Bonding-pa Non-bondin Bond angle Examples
irs g pairs /°

Linear 2 0 180 BeCl2, CO2, HCN,

C 2H 2
Trigonal 3 0 120 BF3, SO3, NO3-,
planar CO32-, C2H4

Tetrahedral 4 0 109.5 NH4+, SO42-, PO43-,

Ni(CO)4, CH4
Trigonal 3 1 107 PH3, SO32-, NH3
pyramidal
Non-linear 2 2 105 H2S, SO2, H2O
(Crooked)
Molecules with Expanded Valence Shells
When the central atom of a molecule is from the third period of the
Periodic Table and beyond, that atom may have more than four pairs
of electrons around it
Five pairs of electrons around the central atom are based on the
Trigonal Bipyramidal structure.
AB5: e.g. PCl5
Three pairs define an Equatorial Triangle
(Equatorial electrons)
Two pairs lie above and below the triangle plane
(Axial electrons)

The repulsion between pairs located 90° apart

are much greater than for those 120° apart:
Six pairs of electrons around the central atom are based on the
Octahedron structure.

AB6 : e.g. SF6

The central atom can be visualized as being at the

centre of an octahedron, with the six electrons
pointing to the six vertices – all bond angles are 90°

E.g. BrF5 E.g. XeF4

Octahedral Square Pyramidal Square Planar

90° Should be less than 90º
Models

Tetrahedral Triangular Planar Bent or V

Linear
Trigonal pyramidal
 Bent or V
2 unshared pairs of e’s at
top of O repel bonds and
force them to bend
molecular geometry.

H2CO
molecular geometry.

H2CO
VSEPR
orbitals
shape

3
tetrahedral sp

2
planar sp

linear sp
EX:
Roth
pond

?
Methane gas, CH4
Molecule Lewis Structure Number of
electron pairs SHAPE

CH4 4
Tetrahedral

Trigonal
NH3 4 Pyramidal

(3 shared
1 lone pair)
Molecule Lewis Structure Number of
electron pairs SHAPE

Bent or V
H2O 4
(2 shared
2 lone pairs)

Linear

CO2 2
Molecule Lewis Structure Number of SHAPE
electron pairs

Linear
BeCl2 2

Trigonal
BF3 Planar
3
Fluorine is the Base of Comparison
Which atom attracts e- more?
electronegativities 2.1 3.0
H ― Cl
δ+ δ-

2.5 3.5
2.1 H―
― C=O
2.1 H

O=C=O
POLAR MOLECULES = uneven distribution of charge.
1 side of molecule is negative ; one side is slightly positive. *
Creating poles.

NON-POLAR MOLECULES = no difference in charge on

outside of molecule.
Electrons are evenly distributed. Uniform charge on outside of
molecule.
 Predict the polarity of CH4 (methane)
Step 1: Determine polarity of bonds
Bonds are evenly spaced out.

Step 2: Determine polarity of molecule

If bonds making up a molecule are non-polar, then the

molecule is non-polar.
Therefore, CH4 is a non-polar molecule.
Carbon dioxide.
Step 1: Determine polarity of bonds O = e-
pulled toward
Which atom attracts electrons more?

Step 2: Determine polarity of Molecule

(shape is linear)

If bonds making up a molecule are polar, then

the molecule may be polar or non-polar,
depending on its shape.
 The center of the positive charges in located
on the carbon atom
The center of the negative charge is also
located on the carbon atom.

Since center of both the positive and negative charge are

located in the same spot in the molecule, there is no difference
in overall charge) so the molecule is non-polar.
 Look at sulfur dioxide.
Step 1: Determine polarity of bonds
Which atom attracts more e-(s)?

Center of positive charge is on the sulfur atom.

While the center of negative charge is located ½

way between the two oxygen atoms.
Since polarity of the bonds and shape of the molecule result in
an uneven distribution of charge – SO2 is a polar molecule.
Now that you have seen how to apply the two steps to
determine the polarity of molecules, see if you can predict
the polarity of the following:

H2O PH3
CCl4
Ammonia (NH3)
SO3
CH3Cl
H2O (Water)
Step 1: Polarity of bonds

Based on electronegativity difference between

H and O, bond is polar
Step 2: Shape of molecule
Based on VSEPR theory,
water is bent. Center of
positive charge is between
the two hydrogen, and
center of negative charge
on oxygen. WATER is a
POLAR molecule.
PH3
Step 1: Polarity of bonds

Based on electronegativity difference between

H and P, bonds are polar
Trigonal Pyramidal
1 unshared pair around central Atom
3 shared bond
Polar Molecule…
NH3 (Ammonia)
Step 1: Polarity of bonds
Based on electronegativity difference between
H and N, bond is polar
Step 2: Shape of molecule
Based on VSEPR theory, ammonia has a
trigonal pyramidal shape. Center of
positive charge is between hydrogen atoms,
and center of negative charge on oxygen.
AMMONIA is a POLAR molecule.
CCl4 (carbon tetrachloride)
Step 1: Polarity of bonds
Based on electronegativity difference between
C and Cl, bonds are polar
Step 2: Shape of molecule
Based on VSEPR theory,
CCl4 has a tetrahedral shape.
Center of positive charge is
on carbon, and center of
negative is also on the
carbon. No separation of
charge. Carbon
tetrachloride is a NON-
POLAR molecule.
SO3 (Sulfur trioxide)
Step 1: Polarity of bonds

Based on electronegativity difference between

S and O, bond is polar
Step 2: Shape of molecule
Based on VSEPR theory,
SO3 is trigonal planar.
Center of positive charge is
on the sulfur, and center of
negative charge is between
the oxygen atoms (also on
S). SO3 a NON- POLAR
molecule.
CH3Cl (Chloromethane)
Step 1: Polarity of bonds

C-H bonds are non-polar, C-Cl bon is polar

Step 2: Shape of molecule

Based on VSEPR theory,
CH3Cl is tetrahedral. Cl
end of bond is negative ,
while C end of bond is
positive. There is a net
separation of charge so
molecule is POLAR.