Valence Bond Theory & Molecular Geometry

two atoms can only form one

sigma bond

a single bond is a

sigma bond

a double bond consists of a

sigma bond and a pi bond

a triple bond consists of a

sigma bond and two pi bonds

bonds formed by the side-by-side overlap of p orbitals are

rigid

2

linear

linear

sp

3

trigonal planar

trigonal planar

sp²

4

tetrahedral

tetrahedral

sp³

5

trigonal bipyramidal

trigonal bipyramidal

sp³d

6

octahedral

octahedral

sp³d²

if the molecular geometry is such that the dipole moments of each polar bond cancel each other then the molecule is

nonpolar

if the molecular geometry is such that the dipole moments of each polar bond don’t cancel each other then the molecule is

polar

lone pairs of e- are more repulsive than

bonding pairs

sigma

end-to-end overlap of orbitals

pi

side-to-side overlap of two p orbitals