Molecular Geometry: Rules, Examples, and Practice

In this video we’ll use VSPRE Theory to practice the rules for identifying the major molecular geometries, including bond angles. Understanding the shape of molecules is a key part of understanding their polarity and reactivity.

Molecular Shapes done with PhET's free online website:

We’ll start with the Lewis Structure for each molecule and then go over each of the following molecular geometries providing, models and visualizations, examples, and practice (with answers).
- Linear
- Bent (90 and 120-degree bond angles)
- Trigonal Planer
- Trigonal Pyramidal
- Tetrahedral
- Trigonal Bipyramidal
- Octahedral

The role of lone pairs (unbonded electron pairs) and their VSEPR influence on molecule shape will also be addressed in the video.

Molecular Shapes done with PhET's free online website:

Drawing/writing done in InkScape. Screen capture done with Camtasia Studio 4.0. Done on a Dell Dimension laptop computer with a Wacom digital tablet (Bamboo).

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