CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

Could somebody clarify the difference between molecular shape and molecular geometry? In high school, I had learned it as electron geometry & molecular geometry so I would appreciate clarification about the difference. Does molecular shape treat bonds and lone pairs as the same, whereas molecular geometry makes a distinction between the structure if a bonding pair is replaced with a lone pair? Thanks in advance

Geometry refers to the arrangements of regions of electron density around an atom (a.k.a. coordination number; lone pairs + bonds). Shape doesn't account for lone pairs.

If there are no lone pairs then the molecular shape is the same as the molecular geometry. In the geometry the arrangement considers a bonded electron pair the same as a lone pair of electrons. The geometry will be either linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, or octahedral.

Geometry would be the parent shapes: linear, trig planar, tetrahedral, trigonal pyramidal, octahedral. The shape would be like bent, see-saw, etc.

Shape takes into consideration the electron repulsion that a lone pair would cause.