

Tetrahedral is the 3-dimensional expression of square planar geometry. In order for the four hydrogens to be furthest apart from one another, we arrive at a tetrahedral shape. There are eight total valence electrons in a methane molecule. TetrahedralĪ common example of a tetrahedral molecule is CH 4 (methane). CO 3 (carbonate) is another example of a trigonal planar molecule. The bond angles in a trigonal planar molecule are 120 degrees. In molecular geometry, this is known as “trigonal planar”.

In order for each fluorine atom to keep its lone pairs as far away as possible from the other fluorine atoms, the molecule forms a triangular, 2-dimensional shape. There are 24 total valence electrons in a BF 3 molecule.

Trigonal PlanarīF 3 is an example of a trigonal planar molecule. CO 2 and BeH 2 are also linear molecules. The bond angles in a linear molecule are 180 degrees. In order for these lone pairs on each respective fluorine atom to be the furthest distance possible from the other fluorine atom, the molecule forms a straight line. There are 16 total valence electrons in a BeF 2 molecule, with three lone pairs (six electrons)on each fluorine atom. LinearīeF 2 is an example of a linear molecule. VSEPR Theory of Molecules without lone electron pairs on the central atomįor simplicity and organization, we will separate VSEPR structures into two categories: those with lone pairs on the central atom, and those without lone pairs on the central atom. Valence electrons repel one another because they are negatively charged and like charges repel. In chemistry, VSEPR Theory is based on the principle that each atom in a molecule will seek a geometry that maximizes the distance between valence electron pairs, thus minimizing electron-electron repulsion. VSEPR Theory is short for Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory, a method of organizing molecules based on their geometric structures.
