L7.3.2: Molecular Geometry

• Each group of valence electrons around a central atom is located as far as possible from the others, to minimize repulsions.
• A “group” of electrons is any number of electrons that occupies a localized region around an atom. A single bond, double bond, triple bond, lone pair, or single electron all count as a single group.
• The electron-group arrangement is defined by both bonding and nonbonding electron groups.
• The molecular shape is the three-dimensional arrangement of nuclei joined by the bonding groups. This is defined only by the relative positions of the nuclei.