Electron pair geometry refers to the spatial arrangement of electron pairs around a central atom, influencing the shape of molecules. It is determined by the number of bonding and lone electron pairs according to the VSEPR theory, which minimizes electron pair repulsion to stabilize the molecule.

Electron Pair Geometry

Electron pair geometry

spatial arrangement of electron pairs

The central atom in a molecule is the atom to which other atoms are bonded, often determining the molecule's geometry and properties. It is usually the atom with the highest bonding capacity or the least electronegative element in the compound.

central atom

shape of molecules

bonding and lone electron pairs

VSEPR theory, or Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory, is used to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs in the valence shell of the central atom. It helps determine the three-dimensional shape of a molecule by minimizing the repulsion between electron pairs, whether they are bonding or non-bonding.

VSEPR theory

Electron pair repulsion is a fundamental principle in chemistry that describes how electron pairs around a central atom will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, ultimately determining the geometry of the molecule. This principle is the basis for the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory, which predicts the three-dimensional shape of molecules based on the number of bonding and lone pairs of electrons.

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