The valence shell electrons in a molecule are depicted in an extremely simplified manner by a Lewis Structure. It is used to demonstrate how the electrons in a molecule are positioned around particular atoms. Electrons are shown as dots or, in the case of a bond, as a line connecting the two atoms.
How do you determine the molecular shape?
Depict the Lewis Structure.
Determine if the electron groups are in bond pairs or are lone pairs by counting the number of electron groups. Keep in mind that lone pairs and bonds are both included in electron groups!
The electron-group geometry is named. (Specify if it is octahedral, tetrahedral, trigonal-bipyramidal, or linear.)
The molecular geometry is determined by examining the locations of the surrounding atomic nuclei. (Count the number of lone pairs)
