Molecular shapes

[Vikramjeet Gill 1C]

Does anyone know any good tips that would help when remembering the molecular shapes and their angles.

[Henri_de_Guzman_3L]

Here's my tip: DON'T memorize anything!

Start by getting very familiar with Lewis Structures. Once you can do them in your sleep, get familiar with finding the VSEPR models (AXE formula) for these Lewis structures. This should be fairly easy if you're comfortable with doing Lewis structures. Once you can do both, the structures follow basic patterns that you can easily figure out and get familiar with practice.

Practice. Practice. Practice.

[Melody Zhang 3L]

You can think of 5 atoms surrounding a central atom as composed of two pyramids, so it's trigonal bipyramid, three atoms surrounding one central atom as a flat molecule, so it is trigonal planar. When you see tetrahedral, just think of 4 surrounding atoms because tetra=4

[Austin Clack]

I think the best thing to do is familiarize yourself with geometric terminology. It's obvious that linear shape is... a line, however once shapes get more complex it's helpful to know prefixes that match certain shapes.