Molecular Geometry and Bonding Theories
Molecular Geometries
Molecular shapes, or geometries, are critical to molecular recognition and function.
Molecular Geometries
The Lewis structure of carbon tetrachloride:
However, the Lewis structure provides no information about the shape of the molecule
The structure of a molecule is defined by:
In carbon tetrachloride:
Carbon tetrachloride is tetrahedral in structure:
Molecular Geometries of ABn molecules
A central atom A is bonded to two or more B atoms
These structures can generally be predicted, when A is a nonmetal, using the "valence-shell electron-pair repulsion model (VSEPR)
1996 Michael Blaber