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MODULE ONE

PREDICTING THE SHAPE OF MOLECULES

In order to know the symmetry of a molecule one must have an idea of the shape it
has. To be able to predict the shape of molecule follow the steps below:

1. Write the Lewis structure of the molecules considering the electron

pair around the central atom of the molecule.
2. Count the number of electron pairs around the central atom (bonding
pairs and lone pairs). Treat double bonds and triple bonds as though
they are single bonds.
3. Note the number of bond pairs and lone pairs.
4. Then from 3 above and using the summary of shapes below
determine the shape.

Writing Lewis Structure

1. Write the skeletal structure of the compound, using chemical symbols and
placing bonding atoms next to one another.

2. Count the total number of valence electrons present

a) For polyatomic anions e.g. 𝐶𝑂32− add the additional number electrons
responsible for the charges.
b) For polyatomic cations e.g. 𝑁𝐻4+ remove the number of electrons responsible
positively charge.

3. Draw a single covalent bond between the central atom and each of the
surrounding atoms, show complete octet of the surrounding atoms, and add
extra electrons to central atom as lone pair.

4. If after steps 1-3 the central atom has less than 8é, then add double bonds or
triple bonds between the central atom and the surrounding atoms using lone
pairs from the surrounding atoms to complete the octet of the central atom.
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Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4

xx
NF3 N = 5e F N F
F N F
F 3F = 3 X 7e= 21e F
Total = 26e

CS2

S C S C = 4e
S C S S C S S C S
2S = 2 X 6e = 12e
Total = 16e
No lone pair

2 ė pairs
1 lone pair

3 ė pairs

2 lone pairs

4 ė pairs
3 lone pairs

5 ė pairs
4 lone pairs

6 ė pairs

7 ė pairs
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AlCl4-
Al = 3e
-
4Cl 4 x 7 = 28e Cl Cl -
x no of lone pair around Al = 0
charge = 1e Cl x
Al x
Cl -
x no of bond pair around Al = 4 Al
Total = 32e Cl :. shape = tetrahedral Cl Cl
Cl

SO2 no of lone pair around S = 1

S = 6e xx xx +
O x S
x
O O x
S x O no of bond pair around S = 2 S
2O = 2 x 6 = 12e O O
:. Shape = Bent
Total = 18

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6 e pairs
XeF4 Xe = 8e x Fx x
x F
x xx 2 lone pairs F
x xx
4F = 4 x7e = 28e
x
x F Xe F x x
x
xx x xx
x x
F 4 bond pairs Xe
x x
Total = 36e xx F F
:. shape = square planar