Shapes of Molecules using the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Model (VSEPR)
 

To successfully view the 3-dimensional structures in the last column of the table below, the Chime plugin must be installed in your browser. For more details see the Beginner's Guide to Chime page. 

Molecular Formula Number of Valence Electrons Steric Number  Orientation of Electron Pairs Shape of Molecule 3-Dimensional Structure (Chime plug-in required)
BeH2 4 2 linear linear
CO2 16 2 linear  linear
BH3 6 3 trigonal planar trigonal planar
BF3 24 3 trigonal trigonal
CH4 8 4 tetrahedral tetrahedral
CCl4 32 4 tetrahedral tetrahedral
NH3 8 4 tetrahedral pyramidal This requires chime plug-in.
H2O 8 4 tetrahedral bent
PF5 40 5 trigonal bipyramid trigonal bipyramid
SF4 34 5 trigonal bipyramid seesaw
ClF3 28 5 trigonal bipyramid T-shaped
XeF2 22 5 trigonal bipyramid linear
SF6 48 6 octahedral octahedral
BrF5 42 6 octahedral square pyramidal
XeF4 36 6 octahedral square planar
Re(S2C2(C6H5)2)3   6 trigonal prism trigonal prism
IF7 56 7 pentagonal bipyramid pentagonal bipyramid
[W(CO)4Br3]-   7 capped octahedron capped octahedron
[NbF7]2- 56 7 capped trigonal prism capped trigonal prism
[TaF8]3- 64 8 square antiprism square antiprism
    8 cube  
[Zr(acac)2(NO3)2]   8 dodecahedron dodecahedron  
[La(NH3)9]3+   9 capped square antiprism capped square prism  
[ReH9]2- 18 9 tricapped trigonal prism tricapped trigonal prism  
    12 cuboctahedron  

Molecular graphics for several of the larger structures provided by . (http://www.webmolecules.com)
(These structures are in a different file format. Please let me know if you experience any problems viewing these structures.)

 

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Written and maintained by R. D. Thomas---Last update January 25, 2001

Department of Chemistry, P.O. Box 305070, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203