VSEPR Molecular Geometry and Bond Angles

Vocabulary flashcards detailing molecular shapes, electron domains, lone pair counts, ideal and example bond angles, and representative chemical examples based on VSEPR theory.

Linear Geometry ($2$ Electron Domains)

A molecular geometry characterized by $2$ electron domains (steric number $2$) and $0$ lone pairs, with an ideal bond angle of $180^\circ$. An example is $CO_2$.

Trigonal Planar Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $3$ electron domains (steric number $3$) and $0$ lone pairs, with an ideal bond angle of $120^\circ$. An example is $BF_3$.

Bent Geometry ($3$ Electron Domains)

A molecular geometry characterized by $3$ electron domains (steric number $3$) and $1$ lone pair, with an ideal bond angle of $120^\circ$ (and an example bond angle of $119^\circ$). An example is $SO_2$.

Tetrahedral Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $4$ electron domains (steric number $4$) and $0$ lone pairs, with an ideal bond angle of $109.5^\circ$. An example is $CH_4$.

Trigonal Pyramidal Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $4$ electron domains (steric number $4$) and $1$ lone pair, with an ideal bond angle of $107^\circ$. An example is $NH_3$.

Angular Geometry ($4$ Electron Domains)

A molecular geometry characterized by $4$ electron domains (steric number $4$) and $2$ lone pairs, with an ideal bond angle of $109.5^\circ$ (and an example bond angle of $104.5^\circ$). An example is $H_2O$.

Trigonal Bipyramidal Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $5$ electron domains (steric number $5$) and $0$ lone pairs, with ideal bond angles of $90^\circ$, $120^\circ$, and $180^\circ$. An example is $PCl_5$.

Seesaw Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $5$ electron domains (steric number $5$) and $1$ lone pair, with ideal bond angles of $180^\circ$, $120^\circ$, and $90^\circ$ (and example bond angles of $173.1^\circ$ and $101.6^\circ$). An example is $SF_4$.

T-shaped Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $5$ electron domains (steric number $5$) and $2$ lone pairs, with ideal bond angles of $90^\circ$ and $180^\circ$ (and example bond angles of $87.5^\circ$ and $< 180^\circ$). An example is $ClF_3$.

Linear Geometry ($5$ Electron Domains)

A molecular geometry characterized by $5$ electron domains (steric number $5$) and $3$ lone pairs, with an ideal bond angle of $180^\circ$. An example is $XeF_2$.

Octahedral Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $6$ electron domains (steric number $6$) and $0$ lone pairs, with ideal bond angles of $90^\circ$ and $180^\circ$. An example is $SF_6$.

Square Pyramidal Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $6$ electron domains (steric number $6$) and $1$ lone pair, with ideal bond angles of $90^\circ$ (and an example bond angle of $84.8^\circ$) and $180^\circ$. An example is $BrF_5$.

Square Planar Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $6$ electron domains (steric number $6$) and $2$ lone pairs, with ideal bond angles of $90^\circ$ and $180^\circ$. An example is $XeF_4$.

Pentagonal Bipyramidal Geometry

A molecular geometry characterized by $7$ electron domains (steric number $7$) and $0$ lone pairs, with ideal bond angles of $90^\circ$, $72^\circ$, and $180^\circ$. An example is $IF_7$.