Molecular Shape and Polarity

[Jasmine 2C]

Does polarity of atoms in a molecule not affect its molecular shape?

[Micah3J]

I think it just affects the bond angles between the atoms but I could be wrong.

[Tiffany Chao 2H]

If you're talking about a molecule like CHCl3, it's polar. However, the polarity of it doesn't affect the fact that its tetrahedral and all bond angles are 109.5 degrees. The only time bond angles/shape is affected would be due to lone pairs.

[Jocelyn Thorp 1A]

the shape affects the polarity (due to the possibility of dipole moments cancelling), but as far as i know it doesn't work the other way around

[Miriam Villarreal 1J]

if all the outer atoms are the same and symmetric, the dipole moments cancel each other out and become nonpolar. However, a molecule with an unsymmetric shape will be (at least slightly) polar. Additionally lone pair or pairs of electrons on the central atom guarantee a nonuniform distribution of electrons. In terms of polarity affecting shape, it is mainly due to areas of electron density that determine a shape.

[KMenjivar_3A]

Polarity does affect the shape of the lewis structure. Lone pairs decreases the bond angle due to electron-electron repulsion. As a result, the structure of the molecule will change.