What good is #"VSEPR"# in regard to the ozone, #O_3#, molecule?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 10, 2017

Well it explains and rationalizes the molecular geometry of ozone.......

Explanation:

The typical Lewis representation of #O_3# depicts charge separation, i.e. there are #3xx6=18*e^-# deriving from the valence electrons of oxygen.

And thus our Lewis structure..........

#O=ddotO^(+)-O^(-)#

Because there are THREE regions of electron density around the central oxygen, the geometry is based upon a trigonal plane. #/_O-O-O=120^@# to a first approx. Because the lone pair of electrons lies CLOSER to the oxygen atom it tends to compress the angle down from #120^@#. The actual #/_O-O-O# angles is about #116.8^@#. The #O-O# bond lengths are equivalent, and #O-O=1.27xx10^-10*m#, intermediate between #O=O# (#1.24xx10^-10*m#) and peroxide (#1.49xx10^-10*m#).

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