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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: GreenAssailant on December 10, 2011, 09:02:35 PM

Title: [CHMA] Question about Bond Angles
Post by: GreenAssailant on December 10, 2011, 09:02:35 PM
Hello,

When you consider bond angles in VSEPR theory, do we generally assume that to be the angle between the two bonding pairs?
Title: Re: [CHMA] Question about Bond Angles
Post by: UG on December 11, 2011, 03:23:36 AM
Yes, but remember that a bond angle is formed between three atoms. For something like PCl5, you may need to specify what three atoms you are talking about as some bond angles are 90o and others are 120o

Title: Re: [CHMA] Question about Bond Angles
Post by: GreenAssailant on December 11, 2011, 10:07:22 AM
Quote from: UG on December 11, 2011, 03:23:36 AM
Yes, but remember that a bond angle is formed between three atoms. For something like PCl5, you may need to specify what three atoms you are talking about as some bond angles are 90o and others are 120o



A bond angle is formed between three atoms? But are they not cases where you have a bent shape and a linear shape? Do not those count as bond angles?
Title: Re: [CHMA] Question about Bond Angles
Post by: UG on December 11, 2011, 05:22:49 PM
Bent shape, eg, H2O, is composed of three atoms and the 'bend' is formed by the H-O-H bond. Similarly, a linear shape, such as CO2 is also composed of three atoms, the O-C-O bond is 180o.