What good is "VSEPR"VSEPR in regard to the ozone, O_3O3, molecule?

1 Answer
Jun 10, 2017

Well it explains and rationalizes the molecular geometry of ozone.......

Explanation:

The typical Lewis representation of O_3O3 depicts charge separation, i.e. there are 3xx6=18*e^-3×6=18e deriving from the valence electrons of oxygen.

And thus our Lewis structure..........

O=ddotO^(+)-O^(-)

Because there are THREE regions of electron density around the central oxygen, the geometry is based upon a trigonal plane. /_O-O-O=120^@ to a first approx. Because the lone pair of electrons lies CLOSER to the oxygen atom it tends to compress the angle down from 120^@. The actual /_O-O-O angles is about 116.8^@. The O-O bond lengths are equivalent, and O-O=1.27xx10^-10*m, intermediate between O=O (1.24xx10^-10*m) and peroxide (1.49xx10^-10*m).