Difference Between Electron Geometry And Molecular Geometry

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What Is Electron geometry?

Electron geometry is the shape of a molecule predicted by considering both bond electron pairs and lone electron pairs. The VSEPR theory states that electron pairs located around a certain atom repel each other. These electron pairs can be either bonding electrons or non-bonding electrons.

The electron geometry gives the spatial arrangement of all the bonds and lone pairs of a molecule. The electron geometry can be obtained using VSEPR theory.

What You Need To Know About Electron Geometry

  • Electron geometry is the geometry in which the shape of a molecule is predicted by considering both bond electron pairs and lone electron pairs.
  • Electron geometry considers electron pair.
  • Electron geometry helps give the arrangement of electron pair.
  • Electron geometry includes both bonding and non-bonding electron.
  • Electron geometry can also be determined by the VESPR Theory.
  • In electron geometry, number of total electron pairs is calculated.

What Is Molecular Geometry?

Molecular geometry is the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms that constitutes a molecule. It includes the general shape of the molecule as well as bond lengths, bond angles, torsional angles and any other geometrical parameters that determine the position of each atom. A bond angle is the angle between any two bonds that include a common atom, usually measured in degrees. A bond distance (length) is the distance between the nuclei of two bonded atoms along the straight line joining the nuclei.

Molecular geometry influences several properties of a substance including its reactivity, polarity, phase of matter, color, magnetism and biological activity. The angles between bonds that an atom forms depend only weakly on the rest of molecule i.e they can be understood as approximately local and hence transferable properties.

Example of molecular geometries

  • Linear
  • Trigonal
  • Tetrahedral
  • Trigonal bipyramidal
  • Octahedral etc.

What You Need To Know About Molecular Geometry

  • Molecular geometry is geometry in which the shape of a molecule is predicted by considering only bond electron pairs.
  • Molecular geometry excludes lone electron pairs.
  • Molecular geometry helps give the arrangement of atoms around the central nuclei.
  • Molecular geometry includes only bonding electrons.
  • Molecular geometry can also be determined by the arrangement of atoms around the nuclei of the central atom.
  • In molecular geometry, number of bonding electron pairs is calculated.

Also Read: Difference Between Trigonal Planar And Trigonal Pyramidal Geometry

Difference Between Electron Geometry And Molecular Geometry In Tabular Form

BASIS OF COMPARISON ELECTRON GEOMETRY MOLECULAR GEOMETRY
Description Electron geometry is the geometry in which the shape of a molecule is predicted by considering both bond electron pairs and lone electron pairs.   Molecular geometry is geometry in which the shape of a molecule is predicted by considering only bond electron pairs.  
Electron Pair Electron geometry considers electron pair.   Molecular geometry excludes lone electron pairs.  
Importance Electron geometry helps give the arrangement of electron pair.   Molecular geometry helps give the arrangement of atoms around the central nuclei.  
Bonding Electrons Electron geometry includes both bonding and non-bonding electron.   Molecular geometry includes only bonding electrons.  
Determination Electron geometry can also be determined by the VESPR Theory.   Molecular geometry can also be determined by the arrangement of atoms around the nuclei of the central atom.  
Calculation In electron geometry, number of total electron pairs is calculated.   In molecular geometry, number of bonding electron pairs is calculated.