Home › KCSE › Chemistry › Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry › What arrangement of electron pairs does VSEPR th…
What arrangement of electron pairs does VSEPR theory predict a molecule will adopt?
AThe one packing pairs closest together
BThe one aligning pairs along one axis
CThe one placing the pairs furthest apart
DThe one pairing them with the nucleus
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. The one placing the pairs furthest apart
1. Electron pairs are all negatively charged, so they repel one another.
2. VSEPR assumes the pairs settle into whichever arrangement makes that repulsion as small as possible.
3. Repulsion falls as the pairs get further apart, so they spread to the maximum separation available.
4. Counting the regions of electron density then gives the geometry and the approximate bond angles.
_Source: OpenStax Chemistry (CC BY 4.0), Ch 7 "Chemical Bonding and Molecular Geometry", section VSEPR Theory_
Related questions
An ionic formula such as Al2O3 does not tell you:For p-block elements forming cations, electrons are removed from which orbitals first?In a chlorine molecule, each chlorine atom ends up surrounded by how many electrons in totA monatomic anion typically forms when a nonmetal atom gains enough electrons to reach:The calcium ion Ca2+ is isoelectronic with which noble gas?When transition metals ionise, the electrons removed first come from the:Breaking the bonds in one mole of hydrogen molecules requires about:Most covalent compounds are poor conductors of electricity because they are: