lone pairs

[Jennifer Lathrop 1F]

Do lone pairs on non central atoms affect the shape of the molecule?

[Tam To 1B]

I believe lone pairs on non central atoms would affect the polarity of the molecule and create a dipole, but it shouldn't affect the overall shape of the molecule.
For example, with CH2F2 has a tetrahedral shape. However, F has lone pairs. This would just mean that the molecule is polar, but the shape remains the same.

[Jamie Hsu]

Lone pairs on non central atoms should not affect the shape of the molecule

[Meachelle_Lum_1I]

No, I believe only lone pairs on central atoms would affect the shape. This is why the trigonal pyramidal shape (3 bonded and 1 lone pair) has a bond angle that’s slightly less than a tetrahedral (4 bonded and 0 lone pair) bond angle of 109.5 degrees.
Lone pairs on non central atoms do affect the repulsion strength however. Lone-lone>lone-bond>bond-bond.

[Sameen Mahmood 3D]

They affect neighboring atoms slightly by pushing on them but they don't create significant changes in bond angle (think CH4 vs. CH3Cl).