Part 1 - VSEPR Bonding Modes & Geometries about Carbon Atoms

The Law of Electrostatics plays a huge role in supporting our mental understanding VSEPR theory; Valence Shell Electron Pairs Repulsion Theory.

VSEPR is an empirical theory based on pure observation.

• For example, "birds have feathers, thus all animals with feathers must be birds" is an example of an empirical theory based which is base purely on making simple empirical observations.
• At the molecular level, atoms will move as far apart from each other to produce optimum angles of separation and geometries.
• Negatively charged electron clouds interacting with negatively charged electron clouds about an atom repel.
• This tutorial will show how balloons an be used empirically to physically represent the interactions between negatively charged electron clouds.
• Watch the tutorial and follow along with your handout provided below.

(finger or mouse scroll to the bottom of the page to click 'Next' to continue)

Ideal & Nonideal Geometries Handout

The handout below as a PDF also be opened in a new tab (click here)


(finger or mouse scroll to the tutorial at the top of the page)