Valence bond theory Assumes that electronic geometry

We said in Section 1.5 that chemists use two models for describing covalent bonds valence bond theory and molecular orbital theory. Having now seen the valence bond approach, which uses hybrid atomic orbitals to account for geometry and assumes the overlap of atomic orbitals to account for electron sharing, let s look briefly at the molecular orbital approach to bonding. We ll return to the topic in Chapters 14 and 15 for a more in-depth discussion. 

The VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron-Pair Repulsion) theory allows chemists to predict the molecular geometry of molecules. The VSEPR theory assumes that the electron pairs around an atom, whether they re bonding (shared between two atoms) or nonbonding (not shared), will try to get as far apart from each other in space to minimize the repulsion between themselves. It s like going to a fancy party and seeing someone else wearing the exact same outfit. You re gonna try to stay as far away from that person as possible ... 

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