VSEPR and Electrons

[Catherine Yang 3G]

When drawing the VSEPR models, should we still include the lone pairs?

[kaushalrao2H]

yes we should!

[GabrielGarciaDiscussion1i]

Yes, it is incredibly important that you include lone electron pairs because as seen in different geometric shapes, the lone pairs influence the shape through electron repulsion.
HOWEVER, when determining the molecular geometry, one often only considers the regions of electron density that exists as bonds. So even though molecular geometry only considers the regions of electron density that are bonds, the bonds themselves are affected by the lone pair electrons and their repulsion.
For example, looking at a molecule that has 6 regions of electron density but only 4 regions that are bonds, it forms a square planar geometry because the two regions of lone pair electrons on the axis equally repulse each other and keep the equatorial electrons in one plane, as a square!

[leilawilliams16]

In relation to the previous reply, since molecular geometry only considers the bonds, do you still indicate electron repulsion and modified bond angle? This confused me