CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

Can we use the terms "bent" and "angular" interchangeably?

Yes they are interchangeable.

They are the same thing and can be used interchangeably.

I was told that angular is for one lone pair and bent is for two lone pairs because it is closer together. Is that not true?

I'm pretty sure they will take either name for either. Following the pattern on the VSEPR diagram we got, they both are angular/bent.

Im pretty sure bent and angular are interchangeable. I have a diagram that shows a molecule is bent shape when there are two bonds and 1 lone pair and angular 2 bonds and 2 lone pairs,which is the opposite of what Kimberly has but are essentially the same thing.

@ Elizabeth, they are the same thing, bent and angular can be used interchangeably regardless of lone pairs (according to my TA)

Thank you!

Along these same lines, would it still be acceptable to say trigonal planar bent?

i think bent is for when there is 2 bonds and trigonal planar is 3 so I think those two are not interchangeable

Bent and angular describe the same shape. The VSEPR number would be AX2E

Yes, it's interchangeable! In the review session today for the #3 on the practice exam we used "bent" and "angular" interchangeably.