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Lecture Notes for VSEPR & MO Theory

THE SHAPES OF SOME SIMPLE MOLECULES



see Fig.1.7 & 1.8 text
Electronic Geometry
describes the arangement of electrons about the central atom
Molecular Geometry
describes the arangement of atoms about the central atom
see Fig.1.9 text
Electron pairs repell each other.
LP-LP>>LP-BP>BP-BP

Lone pairs take up more space than bonding pairs which are constrained by two nuclei

Electronic and Molecular Geometries are identical if and only if there are no LP on the central atom.
 
see Fig.1.10 text
 
see Fig.1.11 & 1.12

POLAR MOLECULES

 
see Fig.1.13

CO2 is non polar while SO2 has a dipole moment of 1.6 D. Explain the polarity difference.




see answer


MOLECULAR ORBITAL THEORY

 
 


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CO2 is non polar while SO2 has a dipole moment of 1.6 D. Explain the polarity difference.
 

Answer:

Drawing the Lewis Dot structure is the key to answering this question.

SO2 has a lone pair of electrons on the central sulfur atom. The SO2 molecule is not linear, but rather bent like a water molecule. Like water, the dipoles do not cancel in SO2.

Therefore, the SO2 molecule is polar.

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