Experiment 1 Predicting Molecular Shape and Polarity Using VSEPR Theory
Experiment 1 Predicting Molecular Shape and Polarity Using VSEPR Theory
Experiment 1 Predicting Molecular Shape and Polarity Using VSEPR Theory
Objectives
Introduction
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory allows one to predict the
electronic and molecular geometries of a molecule from its Lewis structure. In order to
get correct answers from VSEPR theory, you must first have a correct Lewis structure.
Therefore, the procedures for drawing Lewis structures from the textbook and lectures
must be mastered. Remember that you must account for all valence electrons and you
must show all of these electrons in the Lewis structure.
There are polar bonds, but in the molecular geometry, they cancel each other
out. The molecule is not polar.
There are polar bonds present and they do not cancel each other out. The
molecule is polar.
Apparatus
Molecular model kit.
Procedure
For each compound given in the observations/data/report table, follow the following
steps.
1. Draw the Lewis structure. You may want to work on the Lewis structure on a sheet
of scratch paper first before filling in the table.
2. Count the number of bonding pair and lone pair in the Lewis structure and predict
the electronic geometry.
3. Assemble the model which has the correct electronic geometry and remove one
attached atom for every lone pair that is present on the central atom of your Lewis
structure. (Do not count the lone pairs when determining the molecular shape –
they are “invisible”.) You now have a model, showing the shape of the molecule
(the molecular geometry).
4. Draw the structure representing the molecular geometry using wedges and dashes
wherever necessary to show the bonds that are not in the plane of the paper.
(Tetrahedral molecules are not flat and require using the wedged or dashed bond
representation to properly show their three-dimensional shape. See Bettelheim.)
5. Finally, decide which of the category above correctly describe the type of
molecular polarity that fits the molecule.
DATA SHEET
EXPERIMENT 1
Name :
Student ID :
Date of Experiment :
RESULTS
PF3
Formula Sketch Number of Number of Electronic Sketch Molecular geometry Molecular
Lewis structure bonding pair lone pair geometry and bond angles polarity
SO3
SiCl4
ICl4-
AsF5
Formula Sketch Number of Number of Electronic Sketch Molecular geometry Molecular
Lewis structure bonding pair lone pair geometry and bond angles polarity
TeF5-
SCl2
IOF5
IF4+