Understanding Molecule Shapes
This simulation explores how adding atoms and lone pairs affects molecular shapes, bond angles, and electron domains. It explains electron vs. molecular geometry and how atoms adopt low-energy configurations molecular structure studies.
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I N f t i A t T l V E . I N S
■ J E W u hOMV
Molecule Shapes
MODEL 1:
Afctecufe 5ft apes S i m u l a t i o n
(http:/ /phet.colorado.edu /en/simulation/ molecule -shapes)
PART I: ELECTRON DOMAINS
1. Explore the Model screen of the simulation. As you explore., answer the followring questions.
a. How does adding an atom affect the position of existing atoms or lone pairs?
When you add mere atoms they get closer and closer which causes the bond angle to
decrease.
b. How does adding a lone pair affect the position of existing atoms and lone pairs?
The same way as adding an atom., the bond angles decrease
2. Is the effect of adding bonded atoms and lone pairs to the central atom similar? Explain why
this could be the case.
Yes they are both the same because both take up space, This is because they repel the other electron domain*’
We can think of a bond or a lone pair of electrons as a "domain" of electrons. Single bonds.,
double bonds, and triple bonds each count as one domain.
3. How do the electrons in bends (bending domains) differ from lone pairs (non -bonding
domains)?
Electrons in bonds are shared by two atoms while electrons in lone pairs belong to only 1
atom.
4. What happens to the bond angle when you add or remove an electron domain?
The bond angle decreases
5. Can you force the atoms into new configurations by pushing atoms around? What does this
suggest about the configuration of atoms in real molecules?
Yes you can force the atoms into a new configuration but they don't stay in that configuration.
They will adopt to the lowest energy geometry.
6. What is the difference between Electron Geometry and Afofecufe Geometry?
The electron geometry accounts to all domains while the molecule geometry7 only accounts for the
bonding domains.
MOLECULE SHAPES 1
■ J E W u hOMV
Molecule Shapes
MODEL 1:
Afctecufe 5ft apes S i m u l a t i o n
(http:/ /phet.colorado.edu /en/simulation/ molecule -shapes)
PART I: ELECTRON DOMAINS
1. Explore the Model screen of the simulation. As you explore., answer the followring questions.
a. How does adding an atom affect the position of existing atoms or lone pairs?
When you add mere atoms they get closer and closer which causes the bond angle to
decrease.
b. How does adding a lone pair affect the position of existing atoms and lone pairs?
The same way as adding an atom., the bond angles decrease
2. Is the effect of adding bonded atoms and lone pairs to the central atom similar? Explain why
this could be the case.
Yes they are both the same because both take up space, This is because they repel the other electron domain*’
We can think of a bond or a lone pair of electrons as a "domain" of electrons. Single bonds.,
double bonds, and triple bonds each count as one domain.
3. How do the electrons in bends (bending domains) differ from lone pairs (non -bonding
domains)?
Electrons in bonds are shared by two atoms while electrons in lone pairs belong to only 1
atom.
4. What happens to the bond angle when you add or remove an electron domain?
The bond angle decreases
5. Can you force the atoms into new configurations by pushing atoms around? What does this
suggest about the configuration of atoms in real molecules?
Yes you can force the atoms into a new configuration but they don't stay in that configuration.
They will adopt to the lowest energy geometry.
6. What is the difference between Electron Geometry and Afofecufe Geometry?
The electron geometry accounts to all domains while the molecule geometry7 only accounts for the
bonding domains.
MOLECULE SHAPES 1
7 . [ a one o r two grammatically correct sentences, write a definition far the term Xoi'eruie
Ganffletrj.'
The molecular geometry is the 3 dimensional structure or the arrangement o f atoms in a
molecule.
MOLECULE SHAPES 1
Ganffletrj.'
The molecular geometry is the 3 dimensional structure or the arrangement o f atoms in a
molecule.
MOLECULE SHAPES 1
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