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According to VSEPR theory, why are bonds and lone pairs spaced as far as possible?

According to VSEPR theory, why are bonds and lone pairs spaced as far as possible?

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Answer #1

The shape of a molecule depends on the distribution of atoms in space about the central atom, and their bond angles. Bond pair electrons and lone pair electrons repel one another, thus they will be arranged around a central atom as far apart as possible in order to minimize repulsions.

Lone pairs of electrons are assumed to have a greater repulsive effect than bonding pairs. Because of the nonbonding pairs of electrons are spread over a larger volume of space compared to bonding electrons. Because nonbonding electrons are spread over more space they repel other electrons from a greater region of space. So it is more favorable, energetically, for nonbonding pairs of electrons to be as far away as possible from each other in space. So LP-LP repulsions are > LP-BP repulsions > BP-BP repulsions.

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