Question

Does a molecule want a geometry that has high energy or low energy?

Answer 1

Molecules like to take it easy and be in low energy states in general. :)

Answer 2

but why though?

Answer 3

They are lazy. ;)

Answer 4

But really, the general order of the universe is a trend from high energy to low energy.

Answer 5

ok, thanks! Could you also help me answer another question?

What causes the shape of a molecule to be different from the geometry of the molecule?

Answer 6

The unit i'm working on is VSEPR theory and i can not seem to find the answer to this question. Much help is appreciated. :)

Answer 7

I think what you are asking is about the difference between electron-group geometry and molecular geometry, in terms that I am used to.

Answer 8

The electron-group geometry includes the shape of the electron pairs, whereas the molecular geometry only looks at the bonded atoms and ignores the electron pairs.

Answer 9

Thus, if there are no electron pairs, the two will be the same.

Answer 10

I would guess that the terms electron-group geometry is essentially equivalent to "shape of a molecule" but I'm not sure

Answer 11

What is electron-group geometry? I'm kind of confused.

Answer 12

I think that electron-group geometry is the same thing as "the shape of a molecule". But I'm not familiar with that terminology.

Answer 13

Low energy- molecules want to be stable.

Answer 14

Electron group geometry is different than molecular shape. Molecular shape depends on how many electrons are paired, and how many aren't. But electron geometry only depends on how many electrons. For example if you had 2 bonding electrons and a lone electron, the electron geometry would be trigonal planar, however the molecular shape would be bent, the molecular shape also determines the angle of the bond, which in this example would be 120 degrees.

Answer 15

So the molecular shape takes the lone pairs into account whereas the electron group geometry just ignores it?

Answer 16

In my textbook, it says "electron group arrangement". Is this the same as "electron group geometry"? @RobertSn

Answer 17

Electron pair just counts bonds and unbonded electron pairs as the same thing. So if you had two bonded electrons and a lone electron on the central atom, that would constitute a trigonal planar shape according to electron geometery, (3 things in total, 2 bonded and one lone pair) But according to molecular it would be bent

Answer 18

There is not really a simple way to determine the molecular shapes name, you need to memorize them. Once you know them it is easy to determine the molecular shape or electron geometry, Bassicaly, you need to figure out how many bonding electrons you have, and if there are any lone pairs

Answer 19

So what causes the differences is lone electrons on the central atom

Answer 20

Ok, thanks for clearing it up!

Answer 21

@coolsday can you help me