- #1
Cheman
- 235
- 1
VSEPR Theory...
I am completely at ease with being able to use VSEPR theory to answer questions, etc, but I just can't get my head round why it actually happens? All I am told is "electron clouds repel each other to be as far apart as possible", but this seems to completely disagree with the idea of orbitals, etc - the places where elctrons must be. (95% of the time of course... ) The electron pairs are present in orbital which exist in certain places around the nuncleus - why would these move? Thats treating them as if they are solid themselves, like balloons - which they are not.
Is the answer to this a bit more advanced than the "electron clouds repel each other to be as far apart as possible" statement let's on? (ie - does it result from hybridization, etc? )
Thanks in advance.
I am completely at ease with being able to use VSEPR theory to answer questions, etc, but I just can't get my head round why it actually happens? All I am told is "electron clouds repel each other to be as far apart as possible", but this seems to completely disagree with the idea of orbitals, etc - the places where elctrons must be. (95% of the time of course... ) The electron pairs are present in orbital which exist in certain places around the nuncleus - why would these move? Thats treating them as if they are solid themselves, like balloons - which they are not.
Is the answer to this a bit more advanced than the "electron clouds repel each other to be as far apart as possible" statement let's on? (ie - does it result from hybridization, etc? )
Thanks in advance.