Scribd
Upload
21 views6 pages

Molecular Geometry and Hybridization

Uploaded by

hannahhwalsh14
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
21 views6 pages

Molecular Geometry and Hybridization

Uploaded by

hannahhwalsh14
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Electron and Molecular Geometry

Electron Domain Molecular Geometry Bond Angles Number of Bonding Nonbonding Example
Geometry Electron Domains
Domains
Domains
(lone pairs)

Linear Linear 180˚ 2 2 0 CO2

Trigonal Planar Trigonal Planar 120˚ 3 3 0 BF3

Bent 3 2 1 NO2-

Tetrahedral Tetrahedral 109.5˚ 4 4 0 CH4

Trigonal Pyramidal <109.5˚ 4 3 1 NH3

Bent <109.5˚ 4 2 2 H2O

Trigonal Trigonal Bipyramidal 90,̊ axial 5 5 0 PCl5


Bipyramidal
120,̊ equatorial
Bonded atoms
are lost from the See Saw <120˚equatorial 5 4 1 SF4
equatorial
position T-Shaped 5 3 2 ClF3

Linear (the hard way) 5 2 3 XeF2

Octahedral Octahedral 90,̊ axial 6 6 0 SF6

Bonded atoms 90,̊ equatorial


are lost from the
axial position Square Pyramidal 6 5 1 BrF5

Square Planar 90˚ 6 4 2 XeF4


Polarity

The arrows point toward the more electronegative element. If the vector arrows cancel, the molecule or
structure is non-polar overall. If the vector arrows do not cancel, the molecule or structure is polar
overall. In this way, a molecule can have polar bonds and be non-polar overall.

Draw the Lewis structure for CH2Cl2. Draw vector arrows to indicate polar bonds. Is the molecule polar
or non-polar overall?
Common Cases of Adding Dipole Moments to Determine
whether a Molecule is Polar

Hybridization

The following ideas are important in understanding hybridization:

1. Hybrid orbitals do not exist in isolated atoms. They are formed only in covalently bonded atoms.

2. Hybrid orbitals have shapes and orientations that are very different from those of the atomic orbitals
in isolated atoms.

3. A set of hybrid orbitals is generated by combining atomic orbitals. The number of hybrid orbitals in a
set is equal to the number of atomic orbitals that were combined to produce the set.

4. All orbitals in a set of hybrid orbitals are equivalent in shape and energy.

5. The type of hybrid orbitals formed in a bonded atom depends on its electron-pair geometry as
predicted by the VSEPR theory.

6. Hybrid orbitals overlap to form σ bonds. Unhybridized orbitals overlap to form π bonds.
Sigma and Pi Bonds

The first bond two atoms make with each other is a sigma bond. Any additional bonds are pi bonds.

Sigma bonds(σ) are made by head-to-head overlap between orbitals. The overlap occurs along the
internuclear axis.

Orbitals which may form sigma bonds are s with s, s with p, p with p and a hybrid orbital with another
hybrid orbital.

Pi bonds (π) are made by side-by-side orbital overlaps. The overlaps occur above and below the
internuclear axis. Orbitals which may form pi bonds are p orbitals (typically unhybridized p orbitals).

In the figure below, the carbon atom is making 3 sigma bonds, one with O, and one with each H. It is
using its three sp2 hybrid orbitals to make those bonds. It is using its unhybridized p orbital to make the
pi bond with O.

You might also like