How does hybridization affect shape?

1 Answer
anor277
Apr 21, 2018

I would say #"hybridization"# defines shape...

Explanation:

Electron pairs, bonding or non-bonding, arrange themselves around an atom such that interaction between the electron pairs, bonding and non-bonding, is MINIMIZED. And the geometries that minimize such interactions depend on the number of electron pairs...and assume the shapes of the Platonic solids:

#"2 electron pair, linear; 3 electron pairs, tetrahedral; 4 electron"#
#"pairs";" 5 electron pairs, trigonal bipyramidal;"#
#"6 electron pairs, octahedral."#

And this is the basis of #"VESPER"#..#"valence shell electron pair repulsion theory"#, with which you will get very familiar.

But NOTE that we describe molecular geometry on the basis of ATOMS, NOT ELECTRON PAIRS. Water has 2 single #O-H# bonds, and TWO LONE PAIRS....while electronic geometry is tetrahedral, molecular general is BENT: #/_H-O-H=104-5^@#..

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