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Chemical Bonding & shapes of Molecules

Stress e e e e e e e e e e
n+ n+ n+ n+ n+ n+ n+ n+
e e e e e e e e e e
n+ n+ n+ n+ n+ n+ n+ n+
e e e e e e e e e e
Act:
In metallic lattices, metallic ions are placed adjacent to each other but the metallic lattice does not
shatter. Explain why.
5.8 Some solid crystal Structures
W X Y

= Na+ & = Cl- = CO2 = Ar

5.9 Shapes of Molecules (Molecular shape)

Covalent bonds have a directional character which means they have definite shape. Molecular
shape is important in determining and predicting properties such as melting and boiling points,
polarity and the manner in which a molecule can react with another. Simple shapes of molecules
or polyatomic ions e.g. SO42-, NO3- etc can be explained by two theories. These theories are:
- The valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory
- The molecular orbital (hybridisation) theory
Definition: The Shape of a molecule is the two or three dimensional arrangement of bonded atoms
around a central atom in a molecule.

The VSEPR theory.

The shape of a molecule or ion is governed by the arrangement of the electron pairs around the
central atom. The VSEPR theory which considers double and triple bonds as single bonds helps
in the prediction of shapes of molecules and ions and the bond angles. Thus the VSEPR theory
considers a bond, be it a triple, double or single bond as an electron bonded pair or region. A
lone pair is considered as a non-bonded pair or non-bonded electron region.

Statement: The VSEPR theory states that electron pairs in molecules repel one another to stay
as far as possible with lone pair repulsion being stronger than bonded pair repulsion.
Repulsion between pairs of electrons in the valence shell of a central atom in a molecule is of
the order lone pair – lone pair > lone pair – bonded pair > bonded pair-bonded pair. Electron
pairs take up positions as far as much as possible from each other in order to minimize repulsion
for maximum stability of a molecule. .

c) The tetrahedral shape.

Examples of species with tetrahedral shapes are NH4+, SO42-, ClO4-, PO43-, all non-cyclic alkanes
such as methane (CH4), ethane (CH3CH3), propane CH3CH2CH3) etc. Thus CH4 has a tetrahedral
shape because it has four bonded pairs and no lone pair of electrons around central atom. Thus
the mutual repulsion between the mutual repulsion between the four bonded pairs gives the
molecule a tetrahedral shape with bond angles of 109.5°.

THE NEN SERIES A-Level chemistry notes 2023-2024 school year prepared by Nkemzi E.N
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Chemical Bonding & shapes of Molecules

b) Trigonal pyramidal
Examples of molecules and ions with trigonal pyramidal shape include NH3, PH3, PCl3, AsH3,
oxonium ion (H3O+) etc. Thus NH3 has a trigonal pyramidal shape because it has three bonded pairs
and one lone pair of electrons around central atom. Repulsion of the lone pair on bonded pairs is
greater than mutual repulsion between the three bonded pairs giving the molecule a trigonal
pyramidal shape with bond angles of 107°.

Trigonal Planar

Examples of species with the trigonal planar shape are BF3, AlCl3(g), C2H4, CO32-, NO3- etc. Thus BF3
has a trigonal planar shape because there are three bonded pairs and no lone pair around the central
atom. The mutual repulsion between the three bonded pairs gives the molecule a trigonal planar
shape with bond angles of 120°.

Trigonal Bipyramidal
Examples of molecules with this shape are PCl5(g), AsCl5, SbCl5 etc. PCl5 etc. Thus PCl5 has a
trigonal bypyramidal shape because there are five bonded pairs and no lone pair around the central
atom. The mutual repulsion between the five bonded pairs gives the molecule a trigonal bypyramidal
shape with bond angles of 120° between the atoms in the trigonal plane and 90° between the atoms
perpendicular to the plane and the atoms in the plane.

h) Octahedral
Examples of species with octahedral shape are SF6, all complexes with coordination number of 6
such as PCl6–, [Cr(NH3)6]3+, [Fe(EDTA)]2- etc. Thus SF6 has an octahedral shape because there are six
bonded pairs and no lone pair around the central atom. The mutual repulsion between the six bonded
pairs gives the molecule an octahedral shape with bond angles of 90°.

Shapes of molecules according to the hybridisation theory.

Hybridisation N° of Shape Example Bond angle
type orbitals
involve
sp 2 Linear BeCl2, C2H2, 180°
2
sp 3 Trigonal planar BCl3, C2H4, SO3 120°
sp3 4 Tetrahedral CH4 109.5°
sp3d 5 Trigonal bipyramidal PCl5, AsCl5 120° & 90°
sp3d2 6 octahedral SF6, [Ni(NH3)6]2+ 90°
Bond Angles
In principles, if only two atoms are present in a molecule e.g H2, Cl2, NO, CO etc, then the molecule
will automatically have a linear shape with a bond angle of 180°. Bond angles take into account the
angle between two covalent bonds connecting three atoms.
Definition: A bond angle is the angle between two covalent bonds originating from the same central
atom to two other atoms in a covalent species.

THE NEN SERIES A-Level chemistry notes 2023-2024 school year prepared by Nkemzi E.N