What is the electron geometry if you have 4 electron groups around the center atom?

1 Answer
anor277
Jul 20, 2016

4 electron pairs around a central atom adopt tetrahedral geometry.

Explanation:

The most obvious real example is the water molecule. Around oxygen there are 2 lone pairs, and 2 bonding pairs in the #O-H# bonds. These are arranged in a tetrahedron to a first approximation.

But we describe molecular geometry on the basis of atomic not electronic geometry. Thus water is a bent molecule, with #/_H-O-H# compressed to #104.5""^@# due to the influence of the lone pairs. There should be many other examples of #"VSEPR"# on this site.

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