Molecular Structure: Models and Representations Flashcards
¿What is a Lewis structure?
It is a representation that shows how electrons are distributed in a molecule, including bonds and lone pairs.
Lewis structures help to visualize the connectivity and state of electrons in the molecule.
¿What are resonance structures?
They are alternative representations of the same molecule that show different forms of electron distribution.
The true structure of the molecule is a hybrid of all possible resonance structures.
¿What are the common types of molecular geometry?
Some common geometries include linear, planar trigonal, tetrahedral, bipyramidal trigonal and octahedral.
Each geometry is associated with different characteristic bond angles.
¿What are bond angles?
They are the angles formed between the bonds in a molecule.
Bond angles are important for molecular geometry and chemical reactivity.
¿How are molecular geometry and physical properties related?
Molecular geometry influences properties such as polarity, boiling point and solubility.
For example, polar molecules have stronger interactions and therefore higher boiling points than non-polar molecules.
¿Why are resonance structures important?
They allow us to understand the stability and reactivity of molecules that cannot be described by a single Lewis structure.
Resonance is key in compounds such as benzene, where electron delocalization contributes to their stability.
