INTRODUCTION

A)Lewis structures
• do not indicate the three dimensional
shape of a molecule
• do not show the arrangement space of
the atoms, what we call the molecular
geometry or molecular structure.
• Molecules have definite shapes
– the shape of a molecule controls
some of its chemical and physical
properties
 VSEPR THEORY
What does VSEPR stand
for?
Valence Shell Electron
Pair Repulsion
 VSEPR THEORY
Why is this important to
know?
It explains how molecules
and ions behave.
 VSEPR THEORY
For example:
It explains why water
molecules are so good at
dissolving ionic substances
even though water does
not have an ionic bond.
 VSEPR THEORY
Another example:
It explains why part of a
soap molecule attracts
water while the other part
attracts grease and oils.
.
A) Assumptions of VSEPR Theory

1)Electron pairs in the valence shell of an

atom tend to orient themselves so that
the total energy is minimized.
• This means that: the electrons will
approach the nucleus as close as
possible yet take positions as far
away from each other as possible to
minimize _______________ .
• 2) Because lone pairs of electrons
are spread out more broadly than
bond pairs:
– repulsions are greatest between
two lone pairs
– intermediate between a lone pair and
a bond pair
– weakest between two bonding pairs
of electrons.
 3) Repulsive forces decrease rapidly with
increasing interpair angle - greatest at 90 o,
much weaker at 120o, and very weak at 180o.

B) What are the ideal arrangements of

electron pairs to minimize repulsions?
 VSEPR THEORY
Another example: Use it to
clean up greasy hands
from working on your car
or sprucing up your nails
between manicures!
 VSEPR THEORY:
Basic procedure
1) Determine the central
atom (usually the atom
with the lowest subscript
and/or the atom capable of
forming the most bonds).
 VSEPR THEORY:
Basic procedure
2) Draw the electron dot
structure and bar diagram
 VSEPR THEORY:
Basic procedure
3) Determine the molecular
geometry using ALL
electron pairs AND atoms
around the central atom.
 VSEPR THEORY:
Basic procedure
 4) Modify the geometry to
determine the molecular shape if
non-bonding electron pairs exist
by ignoring them, BUT LEAVE
THE ATOMS OF BONDED PAIRS
WHERE THEY ARE. This is done
because even if the electrons have no
atom attached, these unbonded electron
pairs still affect the shape of the structure.
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BeH2
 1) Central Atom?
Be (only 1 atom)
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BeH2
 2) Electron Dot? Note that
Be violates
H Be H the octet
rule—this is
 2) Bar Diagram? an
exception!
H—Be—H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BeH2
 3) Geometry? Hint: What is
the furthest apart you can
spread two atoms attached
to a central atom?

H Be H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BeH2
 4) Shape? Ignore any
unbonded pairs of electrons
—not necessary in this case.
 LINEAR

H Be H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BF3
 1) Central Atom?
B (only 1 atom)
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BF3
 2) Electron Dot? Note that B
violates the
F B F octet rule—
F this is an
 2) Bar Diagram? exception!
F—B—F
F
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BF3
 3) Geometry? Hint: What is
the furthest apart you can
spread three atoms attached
to a central atom?
F

B
F F
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: BF3
 4) Shape? Ignore any
unbonded pairs of electrons
—not necessary in this case.
 trigonal planar F

B
F F
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: CH4
 1) Central Atom?
C (only 1 atom)
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: CH4
 2) Electron Dot? H
H C H
H
 2) Bar Diagram? H
H—C—H
H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: CH4
 3) Geometry? Hint: What is the
furthest apart you can spread four
atoms attached to a central atom?
Think in 3D! H

C
H H
H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: CH4
 4) Shape? Ignore any unbonded
pairs of electrons —not necessary
in this case.
H
 tetrahedral
C
H H
H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: NH3
 1) Central Atom?
N (only 1 atom)
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: NH3
 2) Electron Dot?
H N H
H
 2) Bar Diagram?
H—N—H
H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: NH3
 3) Geometry? Hint: What is the
furthest apart you can spread three
atoms plus one unbonded pair of
electrons attached to a central atom?
Think in 3D!
~109.5o
N
H
H H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: NH3
 4) Shape? Ignore any unbonded
pairs of electrons —it IS
necessary in this case.
 trigonal ~109.5o
pyramidal N
H
H H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: H2O
 1) Central Atom?
O (only 1 atom)
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: H2O
 2) Electron Dot?
O H
H

 2) Bar Diagram? O—H

H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: H2O
 3) Geometry? Hint: What is the
furthest apart you can spread two
atoms plus two unbonded pairs of
electrons attached to a central atom?
Think in 3D!
~109.5o

O
H
H
 VSEPR THEORY:
Example: H2O
 4) Shape? Ignore any unbonded
pairs of electrons —it IS
necessary in this case.
 bent ~109.5o
O
H
H
 VSEPR THEORY
In conclusion:
Since water (also called the
universal solvent) is bent it
is able to dissolve ionic
substances:
O side
tends to
be – (the
electron
pairs O
hybridize H
into one H H sides
group) tend to
be +
This
negative
side These
tends to positive
attract O ends
H tend to
positive
H
ions attract
negative
ions
VSEPR THEORY:
How do we determine
the shapes of
molecules and ions?