What is Molecular Shape?

GOAL(s):

• Connect macroscopic world of observables to microscopic world of molecules.
• Become familiar with different ways that chemists represent molecules.
• Discover and organize molecular shapes based on molecular formulas.
• Learn the names of different molecular shapes.
• Predict molecular shape and name from molecular image.

When drinking a glass of water, you are actually ingesting trillions and trillions of water molecules. Each water molecule is composed of one oxygen atom bound to two hydrogen atoms. These bonds, combined with the two lone electron pairs surrounding the oxgen atom, give the molecule shape.

As it turns out, the shape of each water molecule is bent. In other words, rather than the hydrogen-oxygen-hydrogen bond forming a straight line, they form an angled shape of about 104 degrees.

Why does it matter that water molecules have shape? Among other things, the shape of the molecule affects its intermolecular forces.

Read on to learn more!