High School Chemistry - Core Concept Cheat Sheet

17: Molecular Geometry - VSEPR
Key Structure Terms

Molecular Geometries

 Valence Shell: Electrons in the outermost shell that are
involved in bonding.

A = central atom; X = ligands; E = lone pairs
Electron
Regions
2

 Lewis Structure: A 2D representation of a molecule and
its bonds.
 Lone Pair: Pair of electrons not being shared in a bond.

Molecular
Formula
AX2

Name

Shape

Linear

(BeCl2, CO2)

 Bonding Pair: Pair of electrons used to make a bond.
Both atoms sharing the electrons can “count” them in their
valence shell.

3

AX3

 Single bond: One pair of shared electrons.

(BF3, CO32-,
NO3-, SO3)

 Double bond: Two pairs of shared electrons. Shorter and
stronger than a single bond.

AX2E

 Triple bond: Three pairs of shared electrons. Shorter and
stronger than a double bond.

Trigonal
Planar

(NO2-, SO2,
O3)

 Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory
(VSEPR): Bonds and lone pairs are electrons, all electrons
are negative, negative things repel other negative things,
therefore all bonds and lone pairs arrange themselves in 3D
as far away from each other as possible.

4

AX4
(CH4, NH4+,
PO43-, SO42-,
ClO4-)
AX3E

 Electron Geometry: 3D structure of a molecule
determined by counting the electron regions around a
central atom (bonds and lone pairs).

(NH3, H3O+,
PCl3, SO32-)

 Electron Region: Each bond (single, double or triple) and
lone pair count as “1” electron region.

AX2E2

 Molecular Geometry: 3D structure determined by the
atoms bonded to the central atom.

Bent

Tetrahedron

Trigonal
pyramidal

(H2O, ClO2-,
OF2, SCl2)
5

 Ligand: Atoms bonded to the central atom.

AX5
(PCl5)

VSEPR Theory and Geometry
Electron geometry is determined by looking at the number
of electron regions around the central atom.

AX4E

Molecular geometry is determined by looking at the
number of atoms bonded to the central atom (ligand) and
the number of lone pairs around the central atom.

Trigonal
bipyramidal

See-saw

(SF4, SCl4)
AX3 E2

Electronic Geometry Mnemonic: Linear(2) – Trigonal
Planar(3) – Tetrahedral (4) – Trigonal Bipyramidal(5) –
Octahedron(6) = “Long TriP To TriBe Overseas.”

T-shaped

(ClF3, ICl3)
AX2E3

Examples:

H
H C H
H

Bent

Linear

(XeF2, I3-)
6

AX6

Octahedron

(SF6, PCl6-)

Electron geometry: Tetrahedron
Molecular geometry: Tetrahedron

AX5E
(BrF5, IF5)

H N H

AX4 E2

H

(XeF4)

Square
pyramidal

Square
planar

Electron geometry: Tetrahedron
Molecular geometry: Trigonal pyramidal
How to Use This Cheat Sheet: These are the keys related to this topic. Try to read through it carefully twice then write it out on a blank
sheet of paper. Review it again before the exams.

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Molecular geometry cheat sheet

  • 1.
    High School Chemistry- Core Concept Cheat Sheet 17: Molecular Geometry - VSEPR Key Structure Terms Molecular Geometries  Valence Shell: Electrons in the outermost shell that are involved in bonding. A = central atom; X = ligands; E = lone pairs Electron Regions 2  Lewis Structure: A 2D representation of a molecule and its bonds.  Lone Pair: Pair of electrons not being shared in a bond. Molecular Formula AX2 Name Shape Linear (BeCl2, CO2)  Bonding Pair: Pair of electrons used to make a bond. Both atoms sharing the electrons can “count” them in their valence shell. 3 AX3  Single bond: One pair of shared electrons. (BF3, CO32-, NO3-, SO3)  Double bond: Two pairs of shared electrons. Shorter and stronger than a single bond. AX2E  Triple bond: Three pairs of shared electrons. Shorter and stronger than a double bond. Trigonal Planar (NO2-, SO2, O3)  Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory (VSEPR): Bonds and lone pairs are electrons, all electrons are negative, negative things repel other negative things, therefore all bonds and lone pairs arrange themselves in 3D as far away from each other as possible. 4 AX4 (CH4, NH4+, PO43-, SO42-, ClO4-) AX3E  Electron Geometry: 3D structure of a molecule determined by counting the electron regions around a central atom (bonds and lone pairs). (NH3, H3O+, PCl3, SO32-)  Electron Region: Each bond (single, double or triple) and lone pair count as “1” electron region. AX2E2  Molecular Geometry: 3D structure determined by the atoms bonded to the central atom. Bent Tetrahedron Trigonal pyramidal (H2O, ClO2-, OF2, SCl2) 5  Ligand: Atoms bonded to the central atom. AX5 (PCl5) VSEPR Theory and Geometry Electron geometry is determined by looking at the number of electron regions around the central atom. AX4E Molecular geometry is determined by looking at the number of atoms bonded to the central atom (ligand) and the number of lone pairs around the central atom. Trigonal bipyramidal See-saw (SF4, SCl4) AX3 E2 Electronic Geometry Mnemonic: Linear(2) – Trigonal Planar(3) – Tetrahedral (4) – Trigonal Bipyramidal(5) – Octahedron(6) = “Long TriP To TriBe Overseas.” T-shaped (ClF3, ICl3) AX2E3 Examples: H H C H H Bent Linear (XeF2, I3-) 6 AX6 Octahedron (SF6, PCl6-) Electron geometry: Tetrahedron Molecular geometry: Tetrahedron AX5E (BrF5, IF5) H N H AX4 E2 H (XeF4) Square pyramidal Square planar Electron geometry: Tetrahedron Molecular geometry: Trigonal pyramidal How to Use This Cheat Sheet: These are the keys related to this topic. Try to read through it carefully twice then write it out on a blank sheet of paper. Review it again before the exams. RapidLearningCenter.com  Rapid Learning Inc. All Rights Reserved