VSEPR Theory and the Shapes of Molecules
Electronic Geometry
Molecular Shape
Steric number = 2
AX2
linear
linear
ideal angles = 180
bond angles = 180
Steric number = 3
AX3
AX2E
trigonal planar
trigonal planar
bent
ideal angles = 120
bond angles = 120
bond angles < 120
Steric number = 4
AX4
tetrahedral
tetrahedral
trigonal pyramid
bent
bond angles = 109.5
bond angles < 109.5
bond angles < 109.5
ideal angles = 109.5
Steric number = 5
AX5
AX3E
AX2E2
AX4E
AX3E2
AX2E3
trigonal bipyramid
trigonal bipyramid
see-saw
T-shape
linear
ideal angles = 90 & 120
bond angles = 90 & 120
bond angles < 90 & 120
bond angles < 90
bond angles = 180
AX6
AX5E
octahedral
octahedral
square pyramid
square planar
ideal angles = 90
bond angles = 90
bond angles < 90
bond angles = 90
Steric number = 6
AX4E2