Six Electron Groups with Lone Pairs

The Lewis structure of BrFs, is shown next. The central bromine atom has six electron groups (one lone pair and five bonding pairs). The electron geometry, due to the six electron groups, is octahedral. Since all six positions in the octahedral geometry are equivalent, the lone pair can be situated in any one of these positions. The resulting molecular geometry is square pyramidal. 

When two of the six electron groups around the central atom are lone pairs, as in Xep4, the lone pairs occupy positions across from one another (to minimize lone pair-lone pair repulsions), and the resulting molecular geometry is square planar. 

Electron Groups Bonding Groups Lone Pairs Electron Geometry Molecular Geometry Approximate Bond Angles Example 

Connection 10.3 Lone Pair Electrons and Molecular Geometry 

Suppose that a molecule with six electron groups were confined to two dimensions and therefore had a hexagonal planar electron geometry. If two of the six groups were lone pairs, where would they be located  

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