Molecular shapes
Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin
-
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:15 am
Molecular shapes
Does anyone know any good tips that would help when remembering the molecular shapes and their angles.
-
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:25 am
Re: Molecular shapes
Here's my tip: DON'T memorize anything!
Start by getting very familiar with Lewis Structures. Once you can do them in your sleep, get familiar with finding the VSEPR models (AXE formula) for these Lewis structures. This should be fairly easy if you're comfortable with doing Lewis structures. Once you can do both, the structures follow basic patterns that you can easily figure out and get familiar with practice.
Practice. Practice. Practice.
Start by getting very familiar with Lewis Structures. Once you can do them in your sleep, get familiar with finding the VSEPR models (AXE formula) for these Lewis structures. This should be fairly easy if you're comfortable with doing Lewis structures. Once you can do both, the structures follow basic patterns that you can easily figure out and get familiar with practice.
Practice. Practice. Practice.
-
- Posts: 35
- Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:21 am
Re: Molecular shapes
You can think of 5 atoms surrounding a central atom as composed of two pyramids, so it's trigonal bipyramid, three atoms surrounding one central atom as a flat molecule, so it is trigonal planar. When you see tetrahedral, just think of 4 surrounding atoms because tetra=4
-
- Posts: 29
- Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2018 12:17 am
Re: Molecular shapes
I think the best thing to do is familiarize yourself with geometric terminology. It's obvious that linear shape is... a line, however once shapes get more complex it's helpful to know prefixes that match certain shapes.
Return to “Determining Molecular Shape (VSEPR)”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests