Bond Angles

[Chloe Thorpe 1J]

Are we supposed to memorize bond angles for different shapes? Or is there a way to calculate them? Just wondering in case it comes up on an exam.

[Charles Gu 1D]

You just need to memorize them. There are a lot of good practice problems that help you memorize the angles in the book.

[Mariam Baghdasaryan 4F]

I believe that Professor Lavelle said we don't need to know the exact bond angles for specific molecules, but we should know it for the general shape. So if you identify a molecule to have the trigonal pyramidal shape (3 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair), you can say that the bond angles for that molecule are slightly less than 109.5 since a tetrahedral (4 bonding pairs) has bond angles of 109.5.

[Jeremy Feng 1A]

The questions will likely ask us to estimate the bond angles, in which case we would take into account the positioning of the lone pair electrons. Depending on where the lone pair electrons are, we can estimate if the bond angle is greater than or less than the standard shape's angle.

[Catly Do 2E]

It isn't necessary to memorize exact bond angles for specific molecules. Dr. Lavelle mentioned that we just need to know how lone pairs affect repulsion and nearby bond angles (i.e. a lone pair will push against adjacent bond angles, making them less than the standard degree for that specific shape).

[Jaifreen_Bhangu_3K]

You should know the general bond angle, but you don't need to know the exact bond angle.

[Jaifreen_Bhangu_3K]

You should know the general bond angle, but you don't need to know the exact bond angle.

[MinaChoi_3H]

You'll need to memorize the angles, but not how to draw them.

[Jennifer Lathrop 1F]

For this, is there a way to calculate or memorize bond angles when there is a lone pair? It is usually slightly different than the angles of the normal structure. Is there a set degree amount that a lone pair shifts a bond?

[Sydni Stewart]

For this, is there a way to calculate or memorize bond angles when there is a lone pair? It is usually slightly different than the angles of the normal structure. Is there a set degree amount that a lone pair shifts a bond?

There's no set amount of change I believe. I just know that the more lone pairs there are, the stronger the repulsion away from them and therefore the smaller the angle gets. There is a chart with the exact angles if you's like to memorize them!

[Karla_Ocampo 4E]

I think its best to just memorize them to be safe.

[Andrew Lam 3B]

It would probably be safe to know the most common ones just in case they come up on a test.

[Grace Diaz 3F]

I think it would be helpful to memorize the bond angles respective to the molecular shape.

[George Ghaly 2L]

Each molecular shape has its own respective bond angles, the easiest way to figure out these angles is just by memorizing them.

[Aiden Atoori 1C]

You should generally be familiar with bond angles but i do not think I️t is completely necessary to memorize them!

[Manas Jinka]

In regards to bond angles affected by electron electron repulsion, we don't need to know the exact angles of those angles. Just know that repulsion reduces bond angles.

[KarlaArevalo2F]

I believe he mentioned we should know the general ones like 90, 180, and for bent it should be slightly less than 109.5 but not the exact angle