VESPR

[605110118]

What is the difference between electronic density shape and molecular shape?

[John Liang 2I]

Electron density shape is purely looking at the electron domains. For example in water, there are two bonds and two lone pairs: four electron domains (regions) in total, tetrahedral. Now for molecular shape, lone pairs play a role because they affect the bond angles. 2 bonds and 2 lone pairs (2,2) means the bent molecular shape.

[805307623]

The shape the electrons take around the central atom is what is considered electron geometry. Molecular Geometry however, is the shape the actual connections between atoms have in a compound, which is dictated by the compounds electron geometry.