VSEPR model Lewis structures

Figure 7.5 (page 177) shows the geometries predicted by the VSEPR model for molecules of the types AX2 to AX. The geometries for two and three electron pairs are those associated with species in which the central atom has less than an octet of electrons. Molecules of this type include BeF2 (in the gas state) and BF3, which have the Lewis structures shown below ... 

The Lewis structures encountered in Chapter 2 are two-dimensional representations of the links between atoms—their connectivity—and except in the simplest cases do not depict the arrangement of atoms in space. The valence-shell electron-pair repulsion model (VSEPR model) extends Lewis s theory of bonding to account for molecular shapes by adding rules that account for bond angles. The model starts from the idea that because electrons repel one another, the shapes of simple molecules correspond to arrangements in which pairs of bonding electrons lie as far apart as possible. Specifically ... 

A molecule with only two atoms attached to the central atom is BeCl2. The Lewis structure is CI — Be — CE, and there are no lone pairs on the central atom. To be as far apart as possible, the two bonding pairs lie on opposite sides of the Be atom, and so the electron arrangement is linear. Because a Cl atom is attached by each bonding pair, the VSEPR model predicts a linear shape for the BeCL molecule, with a bond angle of 180° (4). That shape is confirmed by experiment. 

A boron trifluoride molecule, BF3, has the Lewis structure shown in (5). There are three bonding pairs attached to the central atom and no lone pairs. According to the VSEPR model, as illustrated in Fig. 3.4, the three bonding pairs, and the fluorine atoms they link, lie at the corners of an equilateral triangle. Such a structure is trigonal planar, and all three F—B—F angles are 120° (6). 

SOLUTION The Lewis structure of nitrogen trifluoride is shown in (22) we see that the central N atom has four electron pairs. According to the VSEPR model, these four electron-rich regions adopt a tetrahedral arrangement. Because one of the pairs is a lone pair, the molecule is expected to be trigonal pyramidal (23). Spectroscopic measurements confirm this prediction. 

Write a Lewis structure for the orthosilicate anion, Si044 , and deduce the formal charges and oxidation numbers of the atoms. Use the VSEPR model (Chapter 3) to predict the shape of the ion. 

To see how the VSEPR model works, examine the methane (CH4) molecule. The first step is to write its Lewis structure. 

The shapes of molecules are determined by actual experiments, not by theoretical considerations. But we do not want to have to memorize the shape of each molecule. Instead, we would like to be able to look at a Lewis structure and predict the shape of the molecule. Several models enable us to do this. One of the easiest to use is valence shell electron pair repulsion theory, which is often referred to by its acronym VSEPR (pronounced vesper ). As the name implies, the theory states that pairs of electrons in the valence shell repel each other and try to stay as far apart as possible. You probably remember this theory from your general chemistry class. The parts of VSEPR theory that... 

Of the 20th century s development of structural chemistry, we mention the discovery of the electron-pair covalent bond by Lewis [22] which remains a fundamental tenet. It is remembered in every line we have drawn to represent a linkage and is present in most models of molecular structure, such as, for example, the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) model [23]. 

We can further illustrate the use of the VSEPR model for molecules or ions with lone pairs by considering the triiodide ion (I3 ). The Lewis structure for I3 is... 

So far we have considered molecules consisting of one central atom surrounded by other atoms. The VSEPR model can be readily extended to more complicated molecules, such as methanol (CH3OH). This molecule is represented by the following Lewis structure ... 

The VSEPR model is very simple. There are only a few rules to remember, yet the model correctly predicts the molecular structures of most molecules formed from nonmetallic elements. Molecules of any size can be treated by applying the VSEPR model to each appropriate atom (those bonded to at least two other atoms) in the molecule. Thus we can use this model to predict the structures of molecules with hundreds of atoms. It does, however, fail in a few instances. For example, phosphine (PH5), which has a Lewis structure analogous to that of ammonia,... 

Recall that the LE model views a molecule as a collection of atoms bound together by sharing electrons between atomic orbitals. The arrangement of valence electrons is represented by the Lewis structure (or structures, where resonance occurs), and the approximate molecular geometry can be predicted using the VSEPR model. In this section we will describe what types of atomic orbitals are used by this model to share the electrons and hence to form the bonds. 

Obviously, the formulas CO2 and SO2 do not provide any information about the shapes of these molecules. However, there is a model that can be used to predict the shape of a molecule. This model is based on the valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theory. Using this model, you can predict the shape of a molecule by examining the Lewis structure of the molecule. 

Once a Lewis structure is drawn, you can determine the molecular geometry, or shape, of the molecule. The model used to determine the molecular shape is referred to as the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion model, or VSEPR model. This model is based on an arrangement that minimizes the repulsion of shared and unshared pairs of electrons around the central atom. 

The Lewis structures and the shapes of HjS, XeO4, and SOF4 are shown below. According to the VSEPR model, electrons in bonds and in lone pairs can be thought of as charge clouds that repel one another and stay as far apart as possible. First, write a Lewis structure for the molecule, and then arrange the lone pairs and atoms around the central atom, such that the lone pairs are as far away from each other as possible. 

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