Answer to Question #270393 in Biochemistry for Rita Yonan

Question

How do bonding arrangements in a molecule affect

the shape of the molecule?

Answer 1

The repulsion between electron pairs causes them to move as far away from each other as possible when a bond forms. This results in a molecule with a unique geometrical pattern. So, if a molecule only contains two electron pairs, such as CO2, the two bond pairs repel each other and move the furthest apart.