Bond Angles

[Izzie Capra 2E]

Say you have a molecule with VSEPR equation as AXE3. Although the electron geometry is tetrahedral (meaning bond angles of 109.5), the actual molecular shape is linear (180). Would this molecule would have bond angles of 180 since it is ultimately linear?

Same thing with AXE2... Trigonal planar electron geometry but realistically is linear. So bond angles 180 or 120?

[Hiba Alnajjar_2C]

Yes, it would have a bond angle of 180 degrees. And for AXE2, it should also be 180 degrees. The molecular geometry indicates the actual observed shape since it accounts for repulsion from lone pairs, while the electron geometry just indicates the number of bonding domains. Therefore, you should account for the molecular geometry and lone pairs' repulsion to find the bond angles (aka look at if it's linear rather than if it's tetrahedral when finding bond angles)

[Cooper Baddley 1F]

Yes, bonds are calculated with the electron pairs added in so even though there is a certain amount of density spots some are electron pairs that repel the actual bonds off of there new position.

[Kavya Immadisetty 2B]

Also for the specific formulas you're asking about, there's only 2 atoms so they can only form 180 degree angles. Just cuz any two points can make a straight line.