Angles of Bonding Pairs

[Melissa Solis 1H]

For the final, will we need to know how to calculate the angles of the bonding pairs?

[EmilyC_3D]

I believe that we should generally know the angles associate with each molecular shape and be able to use a molecule's formula to find molecular shape and thus bond angles. We should also understand how lone pairs will impact bond angles (making angles smaller between atoms because of its stronger repulsive force). However, I don't believe we should need to know how to perform any specific calculations with bond angles or trying to solve for bond angles beyond generally remembering the size of bonds for each molecular shape.

[Astha Sahoo 3I]

I think so? I usually base angles off of the hybridization of the atom in question and/or shape of the molecule, and there's a lot of textbook questions on it as well so I would expect it on the final.

[Sarah Huang 3A]

I'd have to agree with Emily. I understand your concern, but I do believe that we only need to know the general angles of all the bonds in relation to their hybridization and how their angles change from lower or higher based on the lone pairs.

[Jose Miguel Conste 3H]

I think you should know the shapes of the molecules which will allow you to figure out the angles

[MichaelMendozaD1F]

how do you check to see if your bond angles are correct? or how to find them in general?

[Serena Song 1A]

I think we'll have to know the bond angles for molecules with the VSPER shape of linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyrimidal, square planar, and octahedral. However for molecules with other shapes, we probably aren't expected to know the exact bond angle. For example, for the water molecule, we don't need to know the exact bond angle, only that the angle is less than 109.5 degrees.

[josephspindler2H]

Emily and Serena both had solid answers and covered much of what I was thinking. It's important to know the base bond angles (180, 120, 109.5) and where they come from, but the effect of lone pairs doesn't need to be memorized quantitatively (i.e. just know that bond angles will be smaller due to the stronger repulsion of Lone Pair-Bonding Pair).

[Madisen Brown -1C]

I agree with what Serena mentioned, I believe it's important to know the bond angles from the VSPER model to apply it to other shapes without knowing the exact degree of the angle. More so, if it's greater than or less than, for instance, 109.5