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The ideal electronic symmetry of a molecule consisting of a central atom surrounded by a number of substituents (bonded atoms and non-bonding electrons) is characteristic of the total number of substituents, and is determined solely by geometric considerations - the substituents are arranged so as to maximize the distances amongst them.
The repulsion caused by bonds increases with increase in the number of bonded pairs between two atoms i.e., a triple bond causes more repulsion than a double bond which in turn causes more repulsion than a single bond. The shape of a molecule can be predicted from the number and type of valence shell electron pairs around the central atom. When the valence shell of central atom contains only bond pairs, the molecule assumes symmetrical geometry due to even repulsions between them. However the symmetry is distorted when there are also lone pairs along with bond pairs due to uneven repulsion forces.
repulsion on the bond pairs and as a result the bond pairs tend to come closer. The repulsion between electron pairs increases with increase in electronegativity of central atom and hence the bond angle increases. The bond pairs are closer and thus by shortening the distance between them, which in turn increases the repulsion. Hence the bonds tend to move away from each other. However the bond angle decreases when the electronegativities of ligand atoms are more than that of central atom. There is increase in the distance between bond pairs since they are now closer to ligand atoms. Due to this, they tend to move closer resulting in the decrease in bond angle. The bond angle decreases with increase in the size of central atom. However the bond angle increases with increase in the size of ligand atoms, which surround the central atom. The bond angles are also changed when multiple bonds are present. It is due to uneven repulsions.
RELATION BETWEEN NUMBER & TYPE OF VALENCE ELECTRON PAIRS WITH THE SHAPE OF MOLECULE
The shape of molecule and also the approximate bond angles can be predicted from the number and type of electron pairs in the valence shell of central atom as tabulated below.
Steric Number
The steric number of a molecule is the number of atoms bonded to the central atom of a molecule plus the number of lone pairs on the central atom. It is often used in VSEPR theory(valence shell electron-pair repulsion theory) in order to determine the particular shape, ormolecular geometry, that will be formed.
first step in determination of shape of a molecule is to write the Lewis dot structure of the molecule. Then find out the number of bond pairs and lone pairs in the valence shell of central atom. While counting the number of bond pairs, treat multiple bonds as if they were single bonds. Thus electron pairs in multiple bonds are to be treated collectively as a single super pair.
Steric No.
No. of No. of lone bonding pair electrons groups (pair on 'central' electrons) on atom 'central' atom 0 0 1 0 1 2 2 3 2 4 3 2
Bond Angle
2 3 3 4 4 4
180 120 less than 120 109.5 less than 109.5 less than 109.5
Steric No.
No. of lone No. of pair bonding electrons groups (pair on 'central' electrons) on atom 'central' atom 0 5
Molecular Geometry
trigonal bipyramidal No. of lone pair electrons on 'central' atom
Bond Angle
90, 120 and 180 No. of bonding groups (pair electrons) on 'central' atom
5
5 6 6 6
2
3 0 1 2
3
2 6 5 4
trigonal bipyramidal
trigonal bipyramidal octahedral octahedral octahedral
T-shaped
linear octrahedral square pyramidal square planar
90 and 180
180 90 and 180 90 and 180 90 and 180
Even though the VSEPR model is useful to predict the shapes of molecules, it fails to predict the shapes of isoelectronic species and transition metal compounds. This model does not take relative sizes of substituents and stereochemically inactive lone pairs into account. As a result, VSEPR is not appropriate to apply to heavy d-block species that experience the stereochemical inert pair effect.
Shapes
Linear
Trigonal planar
Angular Tetrahedral
Trigonal pyramidal
Angular Trigonal
bipyramidal
See
T-Shape
Linear
Octahedral
Square pyramidal
Square planar
Pentagonal bipyramidal
Pentagonal pyramidal