Molecular Shape

[thanh24mai]

Molecular shape can only be affected by lone pairs on the central atom, right? lone pairs on other atoms surrounding the central atom don't affect the shape?

[Julie_Reyes1B]

Yes, you are completely correct. Electron density regions, which affect molecular shape, only refer to the electrons directly surrounding the atom.

[Megan Vu 1J]

Yes, you should primarily focus on the central atom when taking in the shape of the molecule and solving for VSEPR. In this way, you can see the central atom's regions of electron density to perform the right molecular shape. You need to see the number of bonded pairs as well as lone pairs in order to solve it.

[Kelsey Ash 1D]

Yes that's right. Electron density affects molecular shape but you only refer to the electron which directly surround the atom itself