Do the lone pairs of the atoms not at the center of the molecule affect the shape at all? Don't the lone pairs also contribute to electron
repulsion and thus shape as well?
Lone Pairs
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Re: Lone Pairs
After some quick googling (as I don't think we have covered this subject in class yet) it seems that unpaired electrons do have a effect on the VSEPR models in that they alter the angle. For example, if there are two bonding groups and zero unpaired, the geometry is linear, but if there is 1 lone pair then the shape is transformed into bent.
For more reference, this is where I got my information:
http://intro.chem.okstate.edu/1314F00/L ... VSEPR.html
For more reference, this is where I got my information:
http://intro.chem.okstate.edu/1314F00/L ... VSEPR.html
Re: Lone Pairs
Yes it does because lone pairs want to be closer to the nucleus in comparison to a bonding pair. When this happens, the lone pairs take up more space due to the repulsion between each other.
Hence, the geometric shape is important because it shows the shape that minimizes the repulsion between electrons of that atom
Hence, the geometric shape is important because it shows the shape that minimizes the repulsion between electrons of that atom
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Re: Lone Pairs
When creating the VSPER model, do the bonds or lone pairs take take precedence over the other?
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Re: Lone Pairs
The lone electron pairs have a greater effect on the molecule shape. Looking at H2O for example, we see that the lone pairs on the Oxygen atom changes the shape of water from a theoretical linear geometry to the bent configuration.
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Re: Lone Pairs
I believe H2O would be tetrahedral shape because there are 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs resulting in a bent angle of 104.5 degrees.
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Re: Lone Pairs
only the lone pairs around the central atom affect the shape of the molecule (For example the lone pairs of chlorine on CCL4 would not affect the molecules shape)
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