Molecular Geometry - Predictable Rules, Vsepr Theory And Bond Angles, Bonds And Electron Pairs, Limitations Of Rules And Exceptions
molecule atoms arrangement containing
The arrangement of atoms within a molecule determines not only the shape of the molecule, but also many of its physical properties. In many cases, dealing with molecules of biological significance, the spatial arrangement of atoms determines whether or not the molecule—or the compound containing the molecule—is "biologically active" (e.g., whether a drug containing a particular molecule will be effective).
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For more than a century, scientists have intensely studied the geometry of compounds. Swiss chemist Alfred Werner (1866–1919) won the Nobel Prize in 1913 for his pioneering work predicting the shapes of molecules. Since those early studies, scientists have developed rules and guidelines based upon physical laws that predict molecular shapes.
An understanding of molecular geometry can be…
In accord with VSEPR theory, molecules are arranged so as to minimize repulsion between electrons. Because they are all negatively charged, electrons repel one another. As a result of this electrical repulsion, the atoms of a covalently bonded molecule assume a shape around the central atom that maximizes the distance between the outermost or valence electrons. This means that repulsion between el…
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