REPULSION THEORY

• WHAT DOES ELECTRON PAIR REPULSION THEORY STATE?

  • each pair of electrons around an atom will repel each other electron pairs
  • pairs of electrons will therefore take up positions as far apart as possible to minimise repulsion
• WHAT DO ELECTRON PAIRS DO TO MINIMISE REPULSION?

  take up positions as far apart as possible
• WHAT DOES INCREASED DISTANCE BETWEEN ELECTRON PAIRS DO?

  minimise repulsion
• WHAT ELECTRON PAIRS HAVE THE HIGHEST REPULSION?

  lone pair - lone pair
• WHAT ELECTRON PAIRS HAVE THE LOWEST REPULSION?

  bonding pair - bonding pair