CHEM 360

Spring, 2004

 

Shapes of molecules and ions

 

Number of central atom electron pairs
Bonding pairs
Non-bonding pairs
Shape
Example
2
2
0
Linear
BeCl2

3

3
0
Triangular
BF3
3
2
1
Bent
SnCl2
4
4
0
Tetrahedral
CCl4
4
3
1
Pyramidal
NH3
4
2
2
Bent
H2O
5
5
0
Trigonal bipyramidal (tbp)
PF5
5
4
1
Pseudo-tdp
BrF4+
5
3
2
T-shaped
BrF3
5
2
3
Linear
XeF2
6
6
0
Octahedral
SF6,PF6-
6
5
1
Square pyramidal
IF5
6
4
2
Square planar
XeF4,IF4-