Valence

Shell Planar
triangular
Electron Tetrahedral

Pair
Repulsion Trigonal
pyramidal

Theory 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 Bent or V

Linear
Trigonal pyramidal
 methane, CH4

Tetrahedral
109.5°

Bonds are all evenly spaced electrons

 .. ammonia

..
..

..
NH3
Trigonal
Pyramidal

Less repulsion between the bonding pairs of electrons

 .. ..
..

water, H2O

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

.. ..
..
 Bent or V
2 unshared pairs of e’s at top
of O repel bonds and force
them to bend
Molecule Lewis Structure Number of SHAPE
electron pairs

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