How do you calculate steric numbers?

1 Answer
anor277
Jun 28, 2016

This is a bit old-fashioned, but steric number refers to the number of atoms bound to the central atom PLUS the number of lone pairs borne by that atom.

Explanation:

The oxygen atom of the water molecule thus has a steric number of 4; as does carbon in methane; as does chlorine in perchlorate, #ClO_4^-#.

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