What is the Difference Between Electron Pair Geometry and Molecular Geometry?

The difference between electron pair geometry and molecular geometry lies in the arrangement of electrons and atoms in a molecule.

• Electron Pair Geometry: This refers to the arrangement of electron pairs around a central atom in a molecule. It takes into account both bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons, which can change the bond angles between atoms.
• Molecular Geometry: This is the arrangement of atoms in a molecule, usually relative to a single central atom. It focuses on the overall shape of a molecule and does not take into account the lone electron pairs.

In summary, electron pair geometry considers the arrangement of electron pairs (both bonding and lone pairs) around a central atom, while molecular geometry focuses on the overall shape of a molecule, excluding lone pairs from determining a molecule's shape. When there are no lone pairs around the central atom in a molecule, the electron and molecular geometries can be the same.

Comparative Table: Electron Pair Geometry vs Molecular Geometry

The main difference between electron pair geometry and molecular geometry lies in the way they arrange electrons and atoms in a molecule. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences:

For example, in a water molecule (H2O), the molecular geometry is bent because there are 2 single bond pairs. However, the electron geometry takes into account the presence of both bond pairs and lone pairs of electrons, resulting in a different arrangement.