VSEPR Examples

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

When completed, this page will provide models of simple molecules exemplifying most of the feasible molecular geometries. The files are in PDB format. RasMol or Chime should display these models properly, including lone electron pairs.

For instructions on the use of RasMol, click here.

For instructions on setting RasMol as a Netscape helper for files of MIME type chemical/x-pdb, click here.

Click on an entry in the Formula column to download a RasMol model of the compound. View in ball-&-stick or space-filling. Nonbonding electron pairs are colored pink.

Click on an entry in the Polyhedron column to download a RasMol model that includes the polyhedron (pink lines) that encloses the terminal atoms of the compound. Best viewed as wireframe or stick.

General Formula	Formula	Electronic Geometry1	Molecular Geometry	Polyhedron2
AX2	HCN	Linear	Linear	-
AX3	BF3	Trigonal Planar	Trigonal Planar	BF3
AX2E	SnCl2	-	Bent	SnCl2
AX4	CH4	Tetrahedral	Tetrahedral	CH4
AX3E	NH3	-	Trigonal Pyramidal	NH3
AX2E2	H2O	-	Bent	H2O
AX5	PF5	Trigonal Bipyramidal	Trigonal Bipyramidal	PF5
AX4E	SF4	-	See-Saw	SF4
AX3E2	BrF3	-	T-Shaped	BrF3
AX2E3	I3-	-	Linear	I3-
AX6	SF6	Octahedral	Octahedral	SF6
AX5E	BrF5	-	Square Pyramidal	BrF5
AX4E2	PtCl4	-	Square Planar	PtCl4

Technical Notes:

1. The nonbonded electron pairs are pseudoatoms of atom type Lp, so you can select them by the designation "*.Lp". For example, to see the model without the lone pairs, enter this command: "restrict not *.Lp". Subsequent menu commands will affect only the atoms.
2. The vertices of polyhedra are pseudoatoms of atom type x, so you can select them by the designation "*.x". For example, to change the display for atoms only, first enter this command: "select not *.x". Subsequent menu commands will affect only atoms and lone pairs. The command "restrict not *.x" eliminates polyhedral lines.

GENERAL CHEMISTRY RESOURCES

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