VSEPR Flashcards: Molecular Geometry & Bond Angles

Practice VSEPR shapes, electron geometry, lone pairs, AXE notation, and ideal bond angles with 78 focused English flashcards.

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Practice VSEPR molecular geometry with 78 English flashcards for high-school and introductory-college chemistry. You should already be able to read simple formulas and Lewis structures. This is focused shape prediction and recall, not a complete chemistry course.

Cards map electron-domain counts to electron geometry; AXE notation to molecular shape and, where lone pairs change the shape, to electron geometry; and selected molecular formulas to shape. Separate prompts retrieve ideal bond-angle benchmarks. A few reverse prompts recover AXE notation from a shape plus its domain count. Contrast and error-diagnosis questions distinguish electron geometry from molecular geometry, count multiple bonds correctly, and show why a shape name alone may not determine the domain count or an exact angle.

The 13 cases are AX₂; AX₃ and AX₂E; AX₄, AX₃E, and AX₂E₂; AX₅, AX₄E, AX₃E₂, and AX₂E₃; and AX₆, AX₅E, and AX₄E₂. Later cards cover axial and equatorial sites, usual lone-pair placements, and ideal versus actual angles. The sequence starts with domains and notation, develops two-to-four-domain cases, then interleaves five- and six-domain cases before final comparisons. Related prompts are separated; the review scheduler handles longer-term spacing.

Practice is text based. Diagram identification, exhaustive Lewis-structure construction, formal charges, polarity, radicals, transition-metal coordination, seven-domain cases, hybridization, and molecular-orbital theory are excluded to keep the deck focused. Shape-to-molecule lists and every possible reverse mapping are omitted because many answers would be valid. Numerical species-angle tables are omitted: ideal benchmarks do not give exact measured angles for every molecule.

All cards carry the VSEPR tag. Original questions, answers, organization, and metadata were prepared with AI assistance and checked against university chemistry references. The cover is an original AI-generated illustration of a generic tetrahedral model; its colors do not identify elements. No source prose, diagrams, competitor cards, or examination questions were copied. Common chemical facts are not claimed as proprietary. Original material, including the generated cover to the extent applicable rights exist, is dedicated under CC0 1.0. This is independent study material, with no university, course, or examination endorsement.

Carte in questo mazzo

  1. Carta 1

    Domanda

    In VSEPR, what is an electron domain around a central atom?

    Risposta

    A region of electron density: one bond to a neighboring atom, regardless of bond order, or one lone pair.

  2. Carta 2

    Domanda

    What does the VSEPR model use to predict a central atom’s geometry?

    Risposta

    Repulsion between electron domains. The domains favor an arrangement that reduces their mutual repulsion.

  3. Carta 3

    Domanda

    In AXₙEₘ notation, what does A represent?

    Risposta

    The central atom whose local geometry is being described.

  4. Carta 4

    Domanda

    How do electron geometry and molecular geometry differ in VSEPR?

    Risposta

    Electron geometry includes all electron domains. Molecular geometry describes the arrangement of atoms around the central atom, leaving lone pairs out of the shape name.

  5. Carta 5

    Domanda

    How many VSEPR domains does one triple bond contribute at either bonded atom?

    Risposta

    One domain. Three shared electron pairs occupy one bonding direction.

  6. Carta 6

    Domanda

    In AXₙEₘ notation, what does n count?

    Risposta

    Atoms directly bonded to the central atom. A double or triple bond still contributes one X.

  7. Carta 7

    Domanda

    For a molecule with several central atoms, where do you apply VSEPR?

    Risposta

    At each central atom separately, using its own bonded neighbors and lone pairs.

  8. Carta 8

    Domanda

    In AXₙEₘ notation, what does m count?

    Risposta

    Lone pairs on the central atom. E counts pairs, not individual electrons.

  9. Carta 9

    Domanda

    For an AXₙEₘ center in the usual closed-shell VSEPR model, how many electron domains are present?

    Risposta

    n + m domains: bonded neighbors plus lone pairs.

  10. Carta 10

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₂, with no lone pairs on A?

    Risposta

    Linear. The two bonded atoms lie on opposite sides of the central atom.

  11. Carta 11

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₃, with no lone pairs on A?

    Risposta

    Trigonal planar. The central atom and three bonded atoms lie in one plane.

  12. Carta 12

    Domanda

    In an X–A–X bond angle, at which atom is the angle measured?

    Risposta

    At A, the central atom, between the two bonds to X atoms.

  13. Carta 13

    Domanda

    Does a lone pair count as one VSEPR domain or two?

    Risposta

    One domain. The pair contains two electrons, but it occupies one region around the central atom.

  14. Carta 14

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₄, with no lone pairs on A?

    Risposta

    Tetrahedral. The four bonded atoms occupy the corners of a tetrahedron around A.

  15. Carta 15

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₂E?

    Risposta

    Bent, also called angular or V-shaped. There are two bonded atoms and one lone pair around A.

  16. Carta 16

    Domanda

    What is the ideal X–A–X bond angle in AX₂ with no lone pairs?

    Risposta

    180°.

  17. Carta 17

    Domanda

    What electron geometry does VSEPR assign to three domains around a central atom?

    Risposta

    Trigonal planar.

  18. Carta 18

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₃E?

    Risposta

    Trigonal pyramidal. Three bonded atoms and one lone pair occupy four electron domains.

  19. Carta 19

    Domanda

    What is the ideal X–A–X bond angle in tetrahedral AX₄?

    Risposta

    About 109.5°.

  20. Carta 20

    Domanda

    A central atom has two bonded neighbors and two lone pairs. What is its AXE notation?

    Risposta

    AX₂E₂.

  21. Carta 21

    Domanda

    What is the ideal X–A–X bond angle in trigonal planar AX₃?

    Risposta

    120°.

  22. Carta 22

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₂E₂?

    Risposta

    Bent, also called angular or V-shaped. Two lone pairs occupy the other two domains.

  23. Carta 23

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₃E?

    Risposta

    Tetrahedral: three bonding domains plus one lone-pair domain.

  24. Carta 24

    Domanda

    In O=C=O, how many electron domains surround carbon?

    Risposta

    Two domains. Each C=O double bond counts once.

  25. Carta 25

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₂E?

    Risposta

    Trigonal planar: two bonding domains plus one lone-pair domain.

  26. Carta 26

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict around carbon in CH₄?

    Risposta

    Tetrahedral. Carbon has four bonded neighbors and no lone pairs.

  27. Carta 27

    Domanda

    A learner counts a double bond as two VSEPR domains. What should they correct?

    Risposta

    Count it as one domain. Bond order changes the number of shared electrons, not the number of bonded directions.

  28. Carta 28

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict around nitrogen in NH₃?

    Risposta

    Trigonal pyramidal. Nitrogen has three bonded neighbors and one lone pair.

  29. Carta 29

    Domanda

    What electron geometry does VSEPR assign to four domains around a central atom?

    Risposta

    Tetrahedral.

  30. Carta 30

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict around oxygen in H₂O?

    Risposta

    Bent. Oxygen has two bonded neighbors and two lone pairs.

  31. Carta 31

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict around carbon in the carbonate ion, CO₃²⁻?

    Risposta

    Trigonal planar. The three C–O bonding directions give three domains, even when a Lewis structure shows one double bond.

  32. Carta 32

    Domanda

    In the simple VSEPR model, how does a central lone pair usually affect neighboring bond angles?

    Risposta

    It tends to compress nearby bond angles because its electron density occupies more space near the central atom. This is a qualitative tendency, not a fixed number of degrees.

  33. Carta 33

    Domanda

    A VSEPR center is trigonal pyramidal with four total domains. What is its AXE notation?

    Risposta

    AX₃E: three bonded atoms and one lone pair.

  34. Carta 34

    Domanda

    Which two common AXE cases give a bent molecular shape with three or four total domains?

    Risposta

    AX₂E with three domains, and AX₂E₂ with four domains. Their electron geometries differ.

  35. Carta 35

    Domanda

    What electron geometry does VSEPR assign to five domains around a central atom?

    Risposta

    Trigonal bipyramidal.

  36. Carta 36

    Domanda

    What electron geometry does VSEPR assign to six domains around a central atom?

    Risposta

    Octahedral.

  37. Carta 37

    Domanda

    Does an ideal VSEPR angle give the exact measured angle in every molecule of that shape?

    Risposta

    No. It is a geometric benchmark; lone pairs and the bonding environment can change actual angles.

  38. Carta 38

    Domanda

    How many axial and equatorial positions are in a trigonal bipyramid?

    Risposta

    Two axial positions and three equatorial positions.

  39. Carta 39

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₅, with no lone pairs on A?

    Risposta

    Trigonal bipyramidal.

  40. Carta 40

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₆, with no lone pairs on A?

    Risposta

    Octahedral.

  41. Carta 41

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₄E in the usual lowest-repulsion arrangement?

    Risposta

    Seesaw. The lone pair occupies an equatorial position in a trigonal-bipyramidal domain arrangement.

  42. Carta 42

    Domanda

    In an ideal trigonal bipyramid, what is the angle between two equatorial bonds?

    Risposta

    120°.

  43. Carta 43

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₃E₂ in the usual lowest-repulsion arrangement?

    Risposta

    T-shaped. Both lone pairs occupy equatorial positions.

  44. Carta 44

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₅E?

    Risposta

    Square pyramidal. One lone pair occupies the sixth position of an octahedral domain arrangement.

  45. Carta 45

    Domanda

    In an ideal trigonal bipyramid, what is the angle between an axial bond and an equatorial bond?

    Risposta

    90°.

  46. Carta 46

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₂E₃ in the usual lowest-repulsion arrangement?

    Risposta

    Linear. Three equatorial lone pairs leave the two bonded atoms in opposite axial positions.

  47. Carta 47

    Domanda

    VSEPR molecular shape of AX₄E₂ in the usual lowest-repulsion arrangement?

    Risposta

    Square planar. Two opposite lone pairs leave four bonded atoms in a square around A.

  48. Carta 48

    Domanda

    In a trigonal-bipyramidal domain arrangement, which sites do lone pairs preferentially occupy?

    Risposta

    Equatorial sites, in the usual VSEPR arrangements with one to three lone pairs.

  49. Carta 49

    Domanda

    Which X–A–X angles occur in an ideal octahedral AX₆ molecule?

    Risposta

    90° between adjacent bonds and 180° between opposite bonds.

  50. Carta 50

    Domanda

    A VSEPR center has a seesaw shape and five total domains. What is its AXE notation?

    Risposta

    AX₄E.

  51. Carta 51

    Domanda

    A VSEPR center has a T-shaped molecular geometry and five total domains. What is its AXE notation?

    Risposta

    AX₃E₂.

  52. Carta 52

    Domanda

    In an ideal trigonal bipyramid, what is the angle between its two axial bonds?

    Risposta

    180°. The axial positions lie on opposite sides of the central atom.

  53. Carta 53

    Domanda

    A VSEPR center is square pyramidal with six total domains. What is its AXE notation?

    Risposta

    AX₅E.

  54. Carta 54

    Domanda

    In the usual octahedral AX₄E₂ arrangement, how are the two lone pairs positioned relative to each other?

    Risposta

    Opposite each other, 180° apart in the ideal domain arrangement.

  55. Carta 55

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict for an isolated SF₄ molecule?

    Risposta

    Seesaw. Sulfur has four bonded fluorine atoms and one lone pair.

  56. Carta 56

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict for an isolated XeF₂ molecule?

    Risposta

    Linear. Xenon has two bonded fluorine atoms and three lone pairs.

  57. Carta 57

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₃E₂?

    Risposta

    Trigonal bipyramidal: three bonding domains plus two lone-pair domains.

  58. Carta 58

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict for an isolated BrF₅ molecule?

    Risposta

    Square pyramidal. Bromine has five bonded fluorine atoms and one lone pair.

  59. Carta 59

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict for an isolated XeF₄ molecule?

    Risposta

    Square planar. Xenon has four bonded fluorine atoms and two opposite lone pairs.

  60. Carta 60

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₄E?

    Risposta

    Trigonal bipyramidal: four bonding domains plus one lone-pair domain.

  61. Carta 61

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict for an isolated ClF₃ molecule?

    Risposta

    T-shaped. Chlorine has three bonded fluorine atoms and two equatorial lone pairs.

  62. Carta 62

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₅E?

    Risposta

    Octahedral: five bonding domains plus one lone-pair domain.

  63. Carta 63

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₂E₃?

    Risposta

    Trigonal bipyramidal: two bonding domains plus three lone-pair domains.

  64. Carta 64

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict for an isolated SF₆ molecule?

    Risposta

    Octahedral. Sulfur has six bonded fluorine atoms and no lone pairs.

  65. Carta 65

    Domanda

    Which bond angles occur in an idealized T-shaped AX₃E₂ arrangement?

    Risposta

    90° and 180°. These are parent-geometry benchmarks; a real molecule can be distorted.

  66. Carta 66

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₄E₂?

    Risposta

    Octahedral: four bonding domains plus two lone-pair domains.

  67. Carta 67

    Domanda

    Why does an octahedral VSEPR arrangement have six domains despite the name’s reference to eight?

    Risposta

    The six domains point toward the six vertices of an octahedron. Eight refers to the solid’s faces.

  68. Carta 68

    Domanda

    Why does a lone pair in AX₄E favor an equatorial site over an axial site?

    Risposta

    An equatorial site has two 90° interactions with other domains; an axial site has three. The equatorial choice reduces these close repulsions.

  69. Carta 69

    Domanda

    Which common AXE cases give a linear molecular shape with two or five total domains?

    Risposta

    AX₂ with two domains, and AX₂E₃ with five domains. A linear shape alone does not determine the electron geometry.

  70. Carta 70

    Domanda

    Which bond angles occur in an idealized square-pyramidal AX₅E arrangement?

    Risposta

    90° and 180°. Actual angles can deviate from these octahedral parent benchmarks.

  71. Carta 71

    Domanda

    A VSEPR center is square planar with six total domains. What is its AXE notation?

    Risposta

    AX₄E₂.

  72. Carta 72

    Domanda

    A learner assigns every bent molecule the same bond angle. What information are they missing?

    Risposta

    The electron-domain arrangement and the particular molecule. Bent includes AX₂E and AX₂E₂, and actual angles depend on the species.

  73. Carta 73

    Domanda

    A learner calls NH₃ tetrahedral because nitrogen has four domains. What shape distinction resolves the error?

    Risposta

    Tetrahedral is its electron geometry. Its molecular geometry is trigonal pyramidal because only the three bonded atoms define that shape.

  74. Carta 74

    Domanda

    Why can four bonded atoms give tetrahedral AX₄ but square planar AX₄E₂?

    Risposta

    AX₄ has four total domains. AX₄E₂ has six total domains, with two opposite lone pairs in an octahedral arrangement.

  75. Carta 75

    Domanda

    Which ideal parent angles are the benchmarks for an AX₄E seesaw arrangement?

    Risposta

    90°, 120°, and 180° from trigonal-bipyramidal electron geometry. Lone-pair repulsion can distort the actual bond angles.

  76. Carta 76

    Domanda

    What molecular shape does VSEPR predict for an isolated PF₅ molecule?

    Risposta

    Trigonal bipyramidal. Phosphorus has five bonded fluorine atoms and no lone pairs.

  77. Carta 77

    Domanda

    What is the electron geometry around A in AX₂E₂?

    Risposta

    Tetrahedral: two bonding domains plus two lone-pair domains.

  78. Carta 78

    Domanda

    Which X–A–X bond angles occur in an ideal square-planar AX₄E₂ arrangement?

    Risposta

    90° between adjacent bonds and 180° between opposite bonds.

A generic tetrahedral ball-and-stick model with an orange center and four teal neighbors against a dark blue background.

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VSEPR Flashcards: Molecular Geometry & Bond Angles

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