VSEPR - The Basic Molecular Configurations

In each of the generic models below, lone pairs of electrons are simulated as the white balls.

Total Electron
Domains

Electron-Domains
Geometry

Bonding
Domains

Nonbonding
Domains

Molecular
Geometry
Hybridized
Orbitals Associated
Angles
Example

2 Linear 2 0 sp CO₂

Linear

3 Trigonal Planar 3 0 sp² BF₃

Trigonal Planar

2 1 NO₂^-

Bent

4 Tetrahedral 4 0 sp³ CH₄

Tetrahedral

3 1 NH₃

Trigonal Pyramidal

2 2 H₂O

Bent

5 Trigonal Bipyramidal 5 0 sp³d PCl₅

Trigonal Bipyramidal

4 1 SF₄

Seesaw

3 2 ClF₃

T-shaped

2 3 XeF₂

Linear

6 Octahedral 6 0 sp³d² SF₆

Octahedral

5 1 BrF₅

Square Pyramidal

4 2 XeF₄

Square Planar

Total Electron Domains	Electron-Domains Geometry	Bonding Domains	Nonbonding Domains	Molecular Geometry	Hybridized Orbitals	Example
2	Linear	2	0		sp	CO₂
2	Linear	2	0	Linear	sp	CO₂
3	Trigonal Planar	3	0		sp²	BF₃
		3	0	Trigonal Planar		BF₃
		2	1			NO₂^-
		2	1	Bent		NO₂^-
4	Tetrahedral	4	0		sp³	CH₄
		4	0	Tetrahedral		CH₄
		3	1			NH₃
		3	1	Trigonal Pyramidal		NH₃
		2	2			H₂O
		2	2	Bent		H₂O
5	Trigonal Bipyramidal	5	0		sp³d	PCl₅
		5	0	Trigonal Bipyramidal		PCl₅
		4	1			SF₄
		4	1	Seesaw		SF₄
		3	2			ClF₃
		3	2	T-shaped		ClF₃
		2	3			XeF₂
		2	3	Linear		XeF₂
6	Octahedral	6	0		sp³d²	SF₆
		6	0	Octahedral		SF₆
		5	1			BrF₅
		5	1	Square Pyramidal		BrF₅
		4	2			XeF₄
		4	2	Square Planar		XeF₄