Electrons and VSEPR

[Olivia Young 1A]

Do lone pair electrons influence the name of the molecular shape? In the molecular geometries such as seesaw, don't lone pairs affect the name given to it, or is it just the bound electrons that influence it?

[Kyle Golden Dis 2G]

Lone pair electrons do affect the shape of molecules. They also slightly decrease the angle of the atoms.

[705137650]

Valence shell electron pair repulsion theory is a model used in chemistry to predict the geometry of individual molecules from the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms. It is also named the Gillespie-Nyholm theory after its two main developers, Ronald Gillespie and Ronald Nyholm.

[Cole Elsner 2J]

Lone Pairs do influence shape, they are still an area of electron concentration, and should be taken into consideration instead of being omitted.

[josephyim1L]

Do lone pair electrons influence the name of the molecular shape? In the molecular geometries such as seesaw, don't lone pairs affect the name given to it, or is it just the bound electrons that influence it?

lone pair electrons influence the shape of the molecular shape but don't impact the actual naming of the molecule. For example SO3_2- has resonance with a lone pair on the Sulfur. The shape is influenced by this lone pair but the name of the molecule shape is still trigonal pyramidal (not inclusive of the lone pair)