VSEPR THEORY (MOLECULAR GEOMETRIES)

A= CENTRAL ATOM, X=an atom bonded to A, E= a lone pair on A

Note: Although there may be lone pairs X, only the electron clouds (bonded atoms, lone pairs) around A affect the molecular geometry

# # #
General Molecular Lewis Bond
Electron Picture Bonded Lone Examples
Formula Geometry Diagram Angles
Clouds Atoms Pairs
1 AX 1 0 Linear H2 180

AX2 2 0 Linear CO2

2 180
-1
AXE 1 1 Linear CN

Trigonal
AX3 3 0 AlBr3
Planar

3 120
AX2E 2 1 Bent SnCl2

AXE2 1 2 Linear O2

AX4 4 0 Tetrahedral CCl4

Trigonal
AX3E 3 1 NH3
pyramidal
109.5
4

AX2E2 2 2 Bent H2O

AXE3 1 3 Linear Cl2

 Trigonal
AX5 5 0 PCl5
bipyramidal

AX4E 4 1 See-saw SeH4

90 and
5
120

AX3E2 3 2 T shape ICl3

AX2E3 2 3 Linear BrF2-

AX6 6 0 Octahedral SF6

6 Square 90
AX5E 5 1 IF5
pyramidal

Square
AX4E2 4 2 XeF4
planar

NOTES:
1. There are no stable AXE4, AX3E3, AX2E4 or AXE5 molecules.
2. All bonds are represented in this table as a line whether the bond is single, double, or triple.
3. Any atom bonded to the center atom counts as one electron cloud, even if it is bonded by a double or triple bond. Count atoms and
lone pairs to determine the number of domains, do not count bonds.
4. The number of bonded atoms plus lone pairs always adds up to the total number of domains.