Remembering VSEPR

[Emily Mei 1B]

Does anyone have any tricks for remembering VSEPR shapes?

[Lauren Seidl 1D]

You can memorize the VSEPR shape for each VSEPR formula (i.e. AX3E = trigonal pyramidal, or AX6 = octahedral). That way for every structure you draw, you can simply figure out its VSEPR formula and know which shape it denotes. Otherwise, drawing out the VSEPR structure should give you a clear idea at its shape. I'm pretty sure someone posted a link to a video of a VSEPR song if you think that would help you lol

[Mitch Mologne 1A]

Try to study the shapes in groups of the amount of bonding regions, that way when you substitute a lone pair for a bond, you will know the still know the shape.

[Isaiah Little 1A 14B]

The way I remember them is that I remember the shapes that have the largest number of bonding atoms, like octahedral and tetrahedral. If lone pairs replace the bonding atoms in a molecule, I picture the shape without a bonding atom at a point (ex; tetrahedral + 1 lone pair in place of an atom = trigonal pyramidal), and the same for if the molecule lacks lone pairs or bonding atoms altogether (as in trigonal planar).