Pushing Apart

The VSEPR idea

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Electron domains (bonds of any order, and lone pairs) spread out as far as possible.
• 2 → linear 180°, 3 → trigonal planar 120°, 4 → tetrahedral 109.5°, 5 → trigonal bipyramid, 6 → octahedral 90°.

Steps

1. Electron pairs keep their distance
2. Carbon dioxide
3. Hit 120°
4. The tetrahedral angle
5. Six around one
6. Why not a square?
7. Two kinds of angle