Molecular geometry

Molecular Geometry

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule. It is a fundamental aspect in the study of chemistry, particularly in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, and medicinal chemistry.

Pronunciation

Molecular Geometry: /məˈlɛkjʊlər ˈdʒiːəmɪtri/

Etymology

The term "molecular" is derived from the Latin word "molecula", which means "small mass". "Geometry" comes from the Ancient Greek words "geo-" meaning "earth", and "-metron" meaning "measurement".

Definition

Molecular geometry is used to describe the shape of a molecule, the angles between its bonds, and the way its atoms are arranged in space. It is determined by the number of bonding and non-bonding electron pairs in the molecule's valence shell.

Related Terms

Bond angle: The angle formed between three atoms across at least two bonds.
Steric number: The total number of atoms bonded to a central atom of a molecule plus the number of lone pairs of electrons.
VSEPR Theory: A model used in chemistry to predict the geometry of individual molecules from the number of electron pairs surrounding their central atoms.
Hybridization: The concept of mixing atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals.