The Molecular Geometry Gallery


This is methane (CH4)

It has four groups of electrons around
the central carbon atom giving it a
tetrahedral electron geometry.
With no lone pairs, it also has a
tetrahedral molecular geometry.

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This is formaldehyde (CH2O)

It has three groups of electrons around
the central carbon atom giving it a
trigonal planar electron geometry.
With no lone pairs, it also has a
trigonal planar molecular geometry.

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This is carbon dioxide (CO2)
It has two groups of electrons around
the central carbon atom giving it a
linear electron geometry.
With no lone pairs, it also has a
linear molecular geometry.

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This is ammonia (NH3)

It has four groups of electrons around
the central nitrogen atom giving it a
tetrahedral electron geometry.
With one lone pair, it has a
trigonal pyramidal molecular geometry.

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This is water (H2O)

It has four groups of electrons around
the central oxygen atom giving it a
tetrahedral electron geometry.
With two lone pairs, it has a
bent molecular geometry.

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This is sulfur dioxide (SO2)

It has three groups of electrons around
the central sulfur atom giving it a
trigonal planar electron geometry.
With one lone pair, it has a
bent molecular geometry.
Because it only has one lone pair, it is slightly different than the bent shape of water.

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