1
2
3
4
5
Valence
Shell
Electron
Pair
Repulsion
Theory
Planar
triangular
Tetrahedral
Trigonal
pyramidal
Bent
VSEPR theory assumes that the shape of a
molecule is determined by the repulsion of
electron pairs.
Molecular Shape
VSEPR Theory
• Based on Electron Dot (Lewis structures)
• Theory predicts shapes of compounds
• abbreviated VSEPR
• VSEPR (pronounced “vesper”) stands for
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion
• VSEPR predicts shapes based on electron pairs
repelling (in bonds or by themselves)
• Electrons around central nucleus repel
each other. So, structures have atoms
maximally spread out
VSEPR overview
• Each shape has a name
(you will have to know these)
• Names of Shapes:
• tetrahedral
• trigonal pyramidal
• Bent
• Linear
• trigonal planar
Triangular Planar
Tetrahedral
Trigonal pyramidal
Linear
Bent or V
Models
methane, CH4
Bonds are all evenly spaced electrons
109.5°
Tetrahedral
Less repulsion between the bonding pairs of electrons
.. ammonia
NH3
..
..
..
Trigonal
Pyramidal
.. ..
..
109.5° (109.5°) 109.5° (107°) 109.5° (104.5°)
water, H2O
.. ..
..
Bent or V
2 unshared pairs of e’s at
top of O repel bonds and
force them to bend
Molecule Lewis Structure Number of
electron pairs
CH4
NH3
SHAPE
Tetrahedral
Trigonal
Pyramidal
4
4
(3 shared
1 lone pair)
Molecule Lewis Structure Number of
electron pairs
H2O
CO2
SHAPE
Bent or V
4
(2 shared
2 lone pairs)
2
Linear
Molecule Lewis Structure Number of
electron pairs
BeCl2
BF3
SHAPE
2
3
Linear
Trigonal
Planar

Lecture _VSPER.pptx educational purpose only