Planar

triangular

Valence
Shell
Electron

Tetrahedral

Trigonal
pyramidal
Bent

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)
Theory predicts shapes of compounds
abbreviated VSEPR
VSEPR (pronounced vesper) stands for

Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion

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

Models

Tetrahedral

Triangular Planar

Trigonal pyramidal

Bent or V

Linear

H
H C H

methane, CH4

H
Tetrahedral
109.5

Bonds are all evenly spaced electrons

..

H C H

..
H N H
..

..

ammonia
NH3
Trigonal
Pyramidal

Less repulsion between the bonding pairs of electrons

..

H C H

H N H

109.5 (109.5) 109.5 (107)

..
H O
.. H
water, H2O

109.5 (104.5)

..

H C H

H N H

..
H O
.. H

H
C H
H
H

N H
H
H

Bent or V
2 unshared pairs of es
at top of O repel bonds
and force them to bend

Molecule

CH4

Lewis Structure

Number of
electron pairs

SHAPE

4
Tetrahedral

NH3

Trigonal
Pyramidal

(3 shared
1 lone pair)

Molecule

H2O

Lewis Structure

Number of
electron pairs

Bent or V

4
(2 shared
2 lone pairs)
Linear

CO2

SHAPE

Molecule

BeCl2
BF3

Lewis Structure

Number of
electron pairs

SHAPE

Linear

Trigonal
Planar