Why is the valence shell electron pair repulsion model used to predict molecular geometry?
Lone pair repulsion is stronger than bonding pair repulsion. |
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Valence electrons are constantly moving. |
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Lewis structures of molecules can tell the bond strength between atoms. |
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Lone pair electrons of the central atom are attracted to the bonding pair electrons. |
A)Lone pair repulsion is stronger than bonding pair repulsion.
Lone pair-lone pair > lone pair - bond pair >bond pair - Bond pair
The bonding electron pair shared in a sigma bond with an adjacent atom lies further from the central atom than a nonbonding (lone) pair of that atom, which is held close to its positively charged nucleus. VSEPR theory therefore views repulsion by the lone pair to be greater than the repulsion by a bonding pair. As such, when a molecule has 2 interactions with different degrees of repulsion, VSEPR theory predicts the structure where lone pairs occupy positions that allow them to experience less repulsion. Lone pair-lone pair (lp-lp) repulsions are considered stronger than lone pair-bonding pair (lp-bp) repulsions, which in turn are considered stronger than bonding pair-bonding pair (bp-bp) repulsions.
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