Valence Shell Electron Pair

Repulsion Theory
Abdul Wahab
BSBCH-009
Inorganic Chemistry
 • VSEPR Theory was suggested by
Sidgwick and Powell [1940].
INTRODUCTI • It was developed by Gillespi and
ON Nyholm in 1957.
• Depends on the Total Number of
Bonding and Non-Bonding electron
pairs in its valence shell.
 • The shape of the molecule is determined
by repulsions between all of the electron
present in the Valence Shell.
• Electron pairs in the valence shell of the
VSEPR central atom repel each other and remains
at a maximum distance apart to keep
Theory repulsion minimum.
• Lone pair electrons takes up more space
around the central atom than a bond pair.
• Lone pair attracted to one nucleus, but
bond pair is shared by two nuclei.
Repulsion Strengths
•  Lone pair – Lone pair > Lone pair – Bond pair > Bond pair – Bond pair
• Triple bond > Double bond > Single bond
• Presence of lone pairs on the central atom causes slight distortion of the bond angles from the
ideal shape.
 Shapes of Molecules
Containing Bonded Pairs
Of Electrons Only
Central atom with Two
Electron Pairs (AB2)

• There are two electron pairs in

the valence shell of Beryllium.
[1s22s2]
• Molecular Geometry – Linear
Arrangement
Central atom with Three
Electron Pairs (AB3)
Trigonal Planar

• Three Electron pairs in the valance

shell of Boron [1s2 2s2 2p1]
• Molecular Geometry – Trigonal Planar
Arrangement
 Central atom with Four Electron Pairs (AB4)
Tetrahedral
• Four Electron pairs in the valance shell of Carbon [1s2 2s2 2p2]
• Molecular Geometry – Tetrahedral
Bond Angle – 109.5˚
 Central atom with Five Electron Pairs (AB5)
Trigonal Bipyramidal
• Five Electron pairs in the valance shell of
Phosphorus [1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23P3]
• Molecular Geometry – Trigonal Bipyramidal
Bond Angle – 120˚ & 90˚
 Central atom with Six Electron Pairs (AB6)
Octahedral
• Six Electron pairs in the valance shell of Sulphur [1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p4]
• Molecular Geometry – Octahedral
Bond Angle - 90˚
 Shapes of Molecules
Containing Bonded Pairs &
Lone Pairs Of Electrons Only
 Central atom with Three Electron Pairs
(AB2E)
V-Shape
• Four Electron pairs in the valance shell of Sn(Tin) [4d10 5s2 5s2]
• Electron Pair Arrangement – V-Shape or Distorted trigonal Planar
Bond Angle - <120˚
Central Atom with Four Electron Pairs(AB3E)
• Five Electron pairs in the valance shell of Nitrogen [1s2 2s2 2p3]
Electron Pair Arrangement - Triangular Pyramidal
• Presence of Lone Pair Cause Slight Distortion from 109.5˚ to 107.5˚.
Central atom with Four Electron
Pairs(AB2E2)
• Six Electron pairs in the valance shell of Oxygen atom [1s2 2s2 2p4].
• Electron Pair Arrangement – V-Shape / Bent Shape.
• Repulsion Between L.P – L.P , L.P – B.P is possible.
• It cause Slight distortion from 109.5˚ to 104.5˚
Central atom with Five Electron Pair (AB4E)
• Six Electrons in the Valance Shell of Sulphur [1s2 2s2 2p6 3s23p4].
• Electron Pair Arrangement – seesaw Shape
L.P – B.P repulsion
AB3E2 & AB2E3
 180˚
BeH2, MgCl2

AlCl3, BF3
SnCl2
NH3,PH3

H2O,H2S
CH4, CCl4
PCl5

SeF4,IBr4+
SF3-
I3- , ClF2
BrF5, BrCl4-
SeCl-

BrF6
Limitations of VSEPR Theory:
Some significant limitations of the VSEPR theory include:

This theory fails to explain isoelectronic species (i.e. elements having the same number of electrons). The
species may vary in shapes despite having the same number of electrons.

The VSEPR theory does not shed any light on the compounds of transition metals. The structure of several
such compounds cannot be correctly described by this theory. This is because the VSEPR theory does not
take into account the associated sizes of the substituent groups and the lone pairs that are inactive.

Another limitation of VSEPR theory is that it predicts that halides of group 2 elements will have a linear
structure, whereas their actual structure is a bent one.
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