Molecular Shapes from VSEPR theory
If you are new to VSEPR then you may find this brief movie of some use.... Click here
However this site is primarily for a quick visual reference in order to ground ideas covered during your course. If you need further information on this topic please follow this link.
| No. of Domains | Hybridisation | Geometry |
Lewis Structures |
Ball and stick models |
3D animation |
| 2 domains | sp | Linear |
 |
 e.g. BeH2, HCN |
|
| 3 domains | sp2 | Trigonal Planar |
 |
 e.g. BF3 |
|
Angular |
 |
 e.g. O3, SnCl2 |
|||
| 4 domains | sp3 | Tetrahedral |
 |
 e.g. CH4 |
|
Trigonal Pyrimidal |
 |
 e.g. NH3 |
|||
Angular / 2 lone pairs |
 |
 e.g. H2O, H2S |
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| 5 domains | sp3d | Trigonal Bipyrimidal |
 |
 e.g. PCl5 |
|
Sawhorse |
 |
 e.g. TeCl4, SF4 |
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T-Shaped |
 |
 e.g. BrF3 |
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Linear / 3 lone pairs |
 |
 e.g. XeF2, I3 |
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| 6 domains | sp3d2 | Octahedral |
 |
 e.g. SF6 |
|
Square Based Pyrimidal |
 |
 e.g. IF5, BrF5 |
|||
Square Planar |
 |
 e.g. XeF4 |
Produced by Tom Martin. As part of Dr. Price's learning resource project run over the summer of 2004.
