Molecular Geometry Summary
Mnemonics
sp2
3
sp
2
Hybrid
Total # of
atoms bonded
to central atom
+ lone pairs
# atoms bonded
to central atom
Lone pairs on
central atom
Shape
sp3
4
2
3
2
4
3
2
0
0
1
0
1
2
Linear
Trigonal Planar
Bent
Tetrahedral
Trigonal Pyramidal
Bent
Love
Live
To
To
Be
Be
The
The
Play
Perfect
Boy
Brother
Bond Angle
180
120
105
109.5
107
105
Example
Molecule
Diagram
CO2
AlCl3
O3
CH4
NH3
H2O
Tetrahedral
Also note, if the molecule contains only 2 atoms total, the shape must be linear.
dsp3
5
5
0
Trigonal bipyramidal
Toy
That
90 & 120
PCl5
d2sp3
6
4
1
Irregular
tetrahedron or
“Seesaw”
In
Ignores
90 & 120
TeCl4
3
2
T-Shaped
Toy
The
90 & 120
ClF3
2
3
Linear
Land
Life
90 & 120
XeF2
6
0
Octahedron
On
Of
5
1
Square pyramid
Square
Strange
90
90
SF6
BrF5
Octahedral
4
2
Square planar
Ships
Siblings
90
XeF4