VSEPR Theory

The Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory is a model used to predict the geometry of individual molecules based on the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms. According to this theory, electron pairs will position themselves around a central atom in a way that minimizes repulsion, leading to specific molecular shapes. The formula provided here broadly captures the number of electron domains (areas of electron density such as bonds or lone pairs) around the central atom minus the number of lone electron pairs. This simplified calculation is helpful for predicting the steric number, which is essential for determining the molecule's shape, such as linear, bent, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, etc. However, the actual VSEPR theory is more complex and cannot be fully encapsulated in a single JavaScript arrow function, as it requires considerations of multiple angles, electron-domain types, and molecular geometry possibilities.