Abstract
Teaching the VSEPR (valence shell electron-pair repulsion) model can be a tedious process. Traditionally, Lewis structures are drawn and the number of “electron clouds” (groups) around the central atom are counted and related to the standard VSEPR table of possible geometries. A simpler method to deduce the VSEPR structure without first drawing Lewis structures is described. A sample lecture utilizing this methodology to determine VSEPR geometries is presented. Incorporated into the lecture are discussions of relevant topics including dipole moments, isomers, electron-pair repulsions, and bioinorganic chemistry. Although this lecture is aimed at first-year science majors, it can easily be modified and applied to nonscience-majors courses and advanced inorganic chemistry courses. A lab to accompany the lecture is available in the supporting material.
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