Molecular Geometry

Molecular Geometry

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This page shows different molecular geometries as described by the Valence-Shell-Electron-Pair Repulsion Model. This model takes into account the repulsion effects of electron pairs. The geometry is determined by both bonded atoms and electron pairs. The total number of atoms bonded and electron pairs around the central atom is referred to as the number of positions. On this page, the blue atoms are the central atoms, and the red are the bonded atoms. Also, when an atom is "deleted" it can be thought of as an electron pair. Some of the examples given are hypothetical.

Click on the following images to go to the corresponding structures.

This is the structure of molecules with 1 position. These have 1 atom and 0 electron pairs, such as Hydrogen, H₂.

These are the structures of molecules with 2 positions.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as Carbon Dioxide, CO₂. This structure has 2 bonded atoms and 0 electron pairs.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as Boron Flouride, BF. This structure has 1 bonded atoms and 1 electron pairs.

These are the structures of molecules with 3 positions.
Press this to view a triganol planar structure, such as Boron Triflouride, BF₃. This structure has 3 bonded atoms and 0 electron pairs.
Press this to view a bent structure, such as Sulfur Dioxide, SO₂. This structure has 2 bonded atoms and 1 electron pairs.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as Carbon Monoxide, CO. This structure has 1 bonded atoms and 2 electron pairs.

These are the structures of molecules with 4 positions.
Press this to view a tetrahedral structure, such as methane, CH₄. This structure has 4 bonded atoms and 0 electron pairs.
Press this to view a triganol pyramidal structure, such as ammonia, NH₃. This structure has 3 bonded atoms and 1 electron pair.
Press this to view a bent structure, such as water, H₂O. This structure has 2 bonded atoms and 2 electron pairs.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as chlorine, Cl₂. This structure has 1 bonded atom and 3 electron pairs.

These are the structures of molecules with 5 positions.
Press this to view a triganol bipyrimidal structure, such as Phosphorus Pentachloride, PCl₅. This structure has 5 bonded atoms and 0 electron pairs.
Press this to view a distorted tetrahedran structure, such as Sulfur Tetraflouride, SF₄. This structure has 4 bonded atoms and 1 electron pair.
Press this to view a T-shaped structure, such as Chlorine Triflouride, ClF₃. This structure has 3 bonded atoms and 2 electron pairs.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as Xenon Diflouride, XeF₂. This structure has 2 bonded atoms and 3 electron pairs.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as Xenon Flouride Ion, XeF^-. This structure has 1 bonded atom and 4 electron pairs.

These are the structures of molecules with 6 positions.
Press this to view an octahedral structure, such as Sulfur Hexaflouride, SF₆. This structure has 6 bonded atoms and 0 electron pairs.
Press this to view a square pryimidal structure, such as Bromine Pentaflouride, BrF₅. This structure has 5 bonded atoms and 1 electron pair.
Press this to view a square planar structure, such as Xenon Tetraflouride, XeF₄. This structure has 4 bonded atoms and 2 electron pairs.
Press this to view a T structure, such as Xenon Triflouride Ion, XeF₄^-. This structure has 3 bonded atoms and 3 electron pairs.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as Xenon Diflouride Ion, XeF₂^-2. This structure has 2 bonded atoms and 4 electron pairs.
Press this to view a linear structure, such as Xenon Flouride Ion, XeF^-3. This structure has 1 bonded atom and 5 electron pairs.

To create these structures, each non-center atom was defined as a different element, then they were all colored using the following script commands:

select not (center atom)
color atom (color)

See the explanation of disappearing atoms given for the crystal structures.