Summary of VSEPR theory

The VSEPR model is an extraordinarily powerful one, considering its great simplicity. Its application to predicting molecular structures can be summarized as follows  

Electron pairs surrounding a central atom repel each other this repulsion will be minimized if the orbitals containing these electron pairs point as far away from each other as possible. 

The coordination geometry around the central atom corresponds to the polyhedron whose number of vertices is equal to the number of surrounding electron pairs (coordination number). Except for the special case of 5, and the trivial cases of 2 and 3, the shape will be one of the regular polyhedra. 

If some of the electron pairs are nonbonding, the shape of the molecule will be simpler than that of the coordination polyhedron. 

Orbitals that contain nonbonding electrons are more concentrated near the central atom, and therefore offer more repulsion than bonding pairs to other orbitals. 

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Table 14.2 Summary of VSEPR theory for the electron domain geometry and molecular geometry of molecules and Ions with five electron domains... 

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