All of them have a

shape
What about the molecule,
does it have a shape?
What is the shape?

To Predict it we can use

the VSEPR Theory
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion

 The shape of a molecule is

determined by the repulsion of
the bonds and electron pairs

1. Determine the Lone pair electron and

bonding electron
Example:H2O
Lewis Structure

Bonding
Electron

Lone
Pair
Electron
s

H2O has 2 single bond = 2 domain

& 2 PEB = 2 domain
total of domain = 2 + 2 = 4 domain

SO2

Lone pair electron

Lewis
Structure

Bonding Electron
SO2 has 1 single bond = 1 domain
1 double bond = 1 domain
1 Lone pair electron = 1 domain
total domain = 1 + 1 + 1 = 3 domain

o determine the Lone pair electron (LPE)

ithout drawing the Lewis structure
E = (EV X) / 2
E
= Lone pair electron (PEB)
EV = valence electron of central atom
X
= the amount of bonding electron

For example:
LPE of H2O
The central atom is O,
E = (EV. O X) / 2
= (6 2 )/ 2
= 2

The molecular shape resulted from the

minimum repulsion of electron domain
(central atom doesnt has the LPE)
Number of
domain

Example

BeCl2

Molecular Shape

1800
linea
r
3

AX2

BF3

1200
Trigonal
Planar

AX3

Number of
domain

Example

Molecular Shape

CH4

109,
50
tetrahedral

Ba

AX4
1200
900

Be

PCl5

Be
Be
Ba

Trigonal
bipiramida

AX5

Number of
domain

Example

Molecular shape

SF6
B

B
A

900
oktahedral

AX6

BEP

LPE

Formula

Molecular Shapes

Examples

AX2E0

Linear

BeCl2

AX2E1

V-shaped planar

S02, O3

AX2E2

Bent

H2O

AX2E3

Linear

XeF2

AX3E0

Trigonal planar

BF3

AX3E1

Trigonal pyramidal

NH3

AX3E2

T-shaped planar

ClF3

AX4E0

Tetrahedral

CH4

AX4E1

Distorted tetrahedron

SF4

AX4E2

Square planar

XeF4

AX5E0

Trigonal bipyramidal

PCl5

AX5E1

Square pyramidal

BrF5

AX6E0

octahedral

SF6

5
6