VSEPR
Name__________________________
All of the following are covalent molecules or ions. Draw Lewis dot structures
and use VSEPR to predict the shape of each. Use the gumdrops and toothpicks provided
to build each chemical species. Be sure that you use one toothpick for each pair of
electrons on the central atom. Under each one write the hybridization of the orbitals.
1. CO2
2. BF4-
3. H2CO
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
4. PCl5
5. SiH4
6. SeF6
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
7. IF4-
8. F2CO
9. XeF4
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
10. NO2-
11. O3
12. ClO3-
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Shape_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
13. I3-
14. IOF5 (I is the central atom)
15. NH2-
hape_____________
Shape_____________
Hybridization_____________
Hybridization_____________
Shape_____________
Hybridization_____________
S
VSEPR
(Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion)
Regions
of
electron
density
2
3
Representative Example
formula
Shape
Hybridization
MX2
MX3
CO2
BF3
sp
sp2
3
4
MX2E
MX4
SO2
CH4
4
MX3E
NH3
4
5
MX2E2
MX5
H2O
PF5
5
5
5
MX4E
MX3E2
MX2E3
SF4
ICl3
I3-
Linear (180o)
Trigonal
planar (120o)
Bent (118o)
Tetrahedral
(109.5o)
Trigonal
pyramidal
(107o)
Bent (105o)
Trigonal
bipyramidal
(TBP)
See Saw
T-shaped
Linear
6
MX6
SCl6
Octahedral
sp3d2
6
MX5E
XeF5+
6
MX4E2
ICl4-
Square
sp3d2
pyramidal
Square planar sp3d2
sp2
sp3
sp3
sp3
sp3d
sp3d
sp3d
sp3d
Instructors note: Each pair of students needs to be provided with 12 gumdrops (2 of one
color and 10 of another), a handful of toothpicks, and a paper napkin or towel to work on.
Answers:
1. linear, sp
2. tetrahedral, sp3
3. trigonal planar, sp2
4. trigonal bipyramidal, sp3d
5. tetrahedral, sp3
6. octahedral, sp3d2
7. see saw, sp3d
8. trigonal planar, sp2
9. square planar, sp3d2
10. bent, sp2
11. bent, sp2
12. trigonal pyramidal, sp3
13. linear, sp3d
14. octahedral, sp3d2
15. bent, sp3
Extension: In structure 14, iodine was the central atom. Could oxygen be the central
atom? Explain your answer.
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