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The VSEPR model has enabled chemists and students to describe, explain, and predict more easily the stereochemistry of chemical elements and compounds. The Lewis structure, which was primarily used to convey the appearance of molecules in the past, proved to be inadequate because there existed many exceptions to this type of diagram. The Lewis structure displayed no information about the geometry of a molecule as it did not indicate how atoms were arranged in space. The VSEPR theory has relieved chemists and students of such limitations by describing the orientation of a molecule in relation to the Pauli principle. By determining this principle affected molecular geometry, Gillespie illustrated that the repulsion interactions of all electron pairs, both shared and unshared ones, in the valence of a molecule determine its shape. This is due to the fact that electron pairs adapt an arrangement that keeps them as far apart as possible; they repel one another.

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Q: How does VSEPR determine molecular geometry?
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What is a visual model of molecular geometry?

VSEPR theory


How do you determine the molecular geometry of a molecule?

The molecular geometry of a molecule can be determined using the VSEPR theory. VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) Theory: The basic premise of this simple theory is that electron pairs (bonding and nonbonding) repel one another; so the electron pairs will adopt a geometry about an atom that minimizes these repulsions. Use the method below to determine the molecular geometry about an atom. Write the Lewis dot structure for the molecule. Count the number of things (atoms, groups of atoms, and lone pairs of electrons) that are directly attached to the central atom (the atom of interest) to determine the overall (electronic) geometry of the molecule. Now ignore the lone pairs of electrons to get the molecular geometry of the molecule. The molecular geometry describes the arrangement of the atoms only and not the lone pairs of electrons. If there are no lone pairs in the molecule, then the overall geometry and the molecular geometry are the same. If the overall geometry is tetrahedral, then there are three possibilities for the molecular geometry; if it is trigonal planar, there are two possibilities; and if it is linear, the molecular geometry must also be linear. The diagram below illustrates the relationship between overall (electronic) and molecular geometries. To view the geometry in greater detail, simply click on that geometry in the graphic below. Although there are many, many different geometries that molecules adopt, we are only concerned with the five shown below.


What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 outer atoms and 1 lone pair on the central atom?

The molecular geometry of this molecule is bent. Click on the related link for a Wikipedia article that contains a VSEPR table.


Molecular geometry of SO3 2-?

VSEPR notation is AX3E Tetra Pyramidal angle is 109.5 degrees sp3 hybridization VSEPR notation is AX3E Tetra Pyramidal angle is 109.5 degrees sp3 hybridization


What is the molecular geometry of SCl6?

The molecular geometry is octahedral.

Related questions

What is a visual model of molecular geometry?

VSEPR theory


What is the vsepr theory used to predict?

According the VSEPR theory of molecular geometry, the geometry of SCl2 would be the same as H2O which is a bent angle


What does vsepr theory tell us about a molecule?

VSEPR predict the geometry of a chemical molecule.


What is vsepr model mainly used for?

The VSEPR model is used mainly to determine molecular shape.


What is the a in vsepr formula?

In VSEPR theory, the "a" stands for the number of atoms bonded to the central atom. It helps determine the molecular geometry by considering the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs around the central atom.


What is the vsepr model mainly used for?

The VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) model is mainly used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the arrangement of electron pairs around the central atom. It helps to understand the spatial arrangement of atoms in a molecule and predict the bond angles between them.


How do you determine the molecular geometry of a molecule?

The molecular geometry of a molecule can be determined using the VSEPR theory. VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) Theory: The basic premise of this simple theory is that electron pairs (bonding and nonbonding) repel one another; so the electron pairs will adopt a geometry about an atom that minimizes these repulsions. Use the method below to determine the molecular geometry about an atom. Write the Lewis dot structure for the molecule. Count the number of things (atoms, groups of atoms, and lone pairs of electrons) that are directly attached to the central atom (the atom of interest) to determine the overall (electronic) geometry of the molecule. Now ignore the lone pairs of electrons to get the molecular geometry of the molecule. The molecular geometry describes the arrangement of the atoms only and not the lone pairs of electrons. If there are no lone pairs in the molecule, then the overall geometry and the molecular geometry are the same. If the overall geometry is tetrahedral, then there are three possibilities for the molecular geometry; if it is trigonal planar, there are two possibilities; and if it is linear, the molecular geometry must also be linear. The diagram below illustrates the relationship between overall (electronic) and molecular geometries. To view the geometry in greater detail, simply click on that geometry in the graphic below. Although there are many, many different geometries that molecules adopt, we are only concerned with the five shown below.


What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 outer atoms and 1 lone pair on the central atom?

The molecular geometry of this molecule is bent. Click on the related link for a Wikipedia article that contains a VSEPR table.


Vsepr theory to predict molecular geometry of h3o hydronium ion co3 2- sf6?

H3O: Trigonal pyramidal CO3^2-: Trigonal planar SF6: Octahedral


Why is the VSEPR model mainly?

The VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) model explains molecular geometry based on the repulsion between electron pairs in the valence shell of an atom. It is mainly used because it is simple, intuitive, and provides a good approximation of molecular shapes based on the number of bonding and nonbonding electron pairs around a central atom.


What does the VSEPR theory tell about a molecule?

A. The geometry it will have


What is the molecular shape of SCl3F as predicted by the VSEPR theory?

The molecular shape of SCl3F is trigonal bipyramidal, as predicted by the VSEPR theory.