Shapes of molecules Flashcards
How to work out shapes of molecules with single bonds only
- Find central atom and work out group number
- Add no. atoms to group number
- If ion is positively charged subtract that charge, if negatively charged then add the charge
- Add up all electrons and divide by 2 to get number of electron pairs
- Lone pairs = electron pairs - number of bonded groups
What does covalent bonds are directional in space mean?
Molecules have a set shape depending on the number of electron pairs around the central atom. The outer electrons of an atom in a molecule are arranged in pairs.
What can electron pairs be thought as?
Clouds of electron density which repel each other so that they are as far apart as possible. An electron pair may be a shared pair of electrons or a lone pair of electrons
Electron pair repulsion theory
1) Electron pairs repel as far away as possible
2) Lone pair / lone pair repulsion is greater than any lone pair / bonding pair repulsion which is greater than bonding pair / bonding pair repulsion
Where a molecule has no lone pair of electrons, number of bonding pairs repel equally
Linear e.g. BeCl2
Bond angle = 180 degrees Electron pairs = 2 Bonding pairs = 2 Lone pairs = 0 Symmetric
Trigonal planar e.g. BeCl3
Bond angle = 120 degrees Ep = 3 Bp = 3 Lp = 0 Symmetric
Tetrahedral e.g. NH4+ or CH4
Bond angle = 109.5 degrees Ep = 4 Bp = 4 Lp = 0 Symmetric
Pyramidal e.g. NH3 or PH3
Bond angle = 107 degrees Ep = 4 Bp = 3 Lp = 1 Asymmetric
V or bend shape e.g. H2O
Bond angle = 104.5 degrees Ep = 4 Bp = 2 Lp = 2 Asymmetric
Trigonal bypyramidal e.g. PF5
Bond angle = 120 and 90 degrees
Ep = 5
Bp = 5
Lp = 0
Modified trigonal bypyramidal e.g. SF4
Bond angle = 188 and 89 degrees
Ep = 5
Bp = 4
Lp = 1
T shaped e.g. ClF3
Bond angle = 86 degrees
Ep = 5
Bp = 3
Lp = 2
Linear e.g. I3-
Bond angle = 180 degrees
Ep = 5
Bp = 2
Lp = 3
Octahedral e.g. SF6
Bond angle = 90 degrees Ep = 6 Bp = 6 Lp = 0 Symmetric
Square planar e.g. ICl4
Bond angle = 90 degrees
Ep = 6
Bp = 4
Lp = 2