How is the VSEPR theory used?

1 Answer
mrpauller.weebly.com
Apr 22, 2016

VSEPR theory is used to determine the shapes of molecules.

Explanation:

VSEPR is short for Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion. It is a theory that basically says that electron pairs (bonding and nonbonding) of the central atom in a molecule will push as far away from each other as they possibly can in three dimensional space.

This means the bonding electron pairs in a molecule like BeF2 or BeCl2 push as far away from each other as they possibly can and create an angle of 1800 across the molecule.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WatSIEa-7E0/UEUYQ1oxudI/AAAAAAAAAzo/V_qa_RZRaWA/s400/Lewis-structures-of-BeF2-and-BeCl2gifhttp://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WatSIEa-7E0/UEUYQ1oxudI/AAAAAAAAAzo/V_qa_RZRaWA/s400/Lewis-structures-of-BeF2-and-BeCl2gif

Here is a video which discusses other possible arrangements of electrons around the central atom and the shapes these arrangements will produce.

Hope this helps!

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