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2 Dec 2025

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Molecular Shapes, Intermolecular Forces, and Bonding Basics

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Hannah

@hannah_studys1012

Chemical bonding and molecular shapes are fundamental concepts that explain... Show more

# Ionic lattices

- high MP + BP - very strong electrostatic forces of attrachion
- lots energy to overcome
- conduct electricity in water /

Ionic Lattices and Covalent Bonding

Ionic lattices are incredibly tough structures because of the strong electrostatic forces holding positive and negative ions together. This is why they have such high melting and boiling points - you need loads of energy to break these attractions apart.

These compounds become electrical conductors when dissolved in water or melted because the ions can finally move freely. Water is particularly good at dissolving ionic compounds since the positive hydrogen atoms attract negative ions whilst the negative oxygen atoms pull positive ions away from the lattice.

Covalent bonds form when atomic orbitals overlap, creating attraction between the shared electron pair and both nuclei. You'll encounter different types: sigma bonds formedbyss,sp,orheadonppoverlapformed by s-s, s-p, or head-on p-p overlap and pi bonds formedbysidewaysppoverlapformed by sideways p-p overlap. Single bonds contain one sigma bond, whilst double bonds have one sigma plus one pi bond.

Key Insight: Dative covalent bonds occur when one atom donates both electrons to form the pair - like in NH₄⁺ where ammonia accepts a hydrogen ion.

# Ionic lattices

- high MP + BP - very strong electrostatic forces of attrachion
- lots energy to overcome
- conduct electricity in water /

Molecular Shapes and Bond Angles

Predicting molecular geometry becomes straightforward once you understand electron pair repulsion. Molecules arrange themselves to minimise repulsion between electron pairs, creating predictable shapes with specific bond angles.

Linear molecules like CO₂ have 180° bond angles, whilst trigonal planar shapes (like BF₃) show 120° angles. The common tetrahedral arrangement gives you 109.5° angles, but this changes when lone pairs get involved.

Lone pairs are electron bullies - they push bonding pairs closer together. Pyramidal shapes (like NH₃) start tetrahedral but lone pairs reduce the bond angle to about 107°. Bent molecules like water have even smaller angles (104.5°) because two lone pairs create extra repulsion.

Octahedral molecules have six bonding pairs arranged with 90° bond angles, creating a shape that looks like two square pyramids stuck together.

Exam Tip: Remember that lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs - subtract about 2.5° for each lone pair from the standard tetrahedral angle.



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This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

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Xander S

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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

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This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

 

Chemistry

83

2 Dec 2025

2 pages

Molecular Shapes, Intermolecular Forces, and Bonding Basics

user profile picture

Hannah

@hannah_studys1012

Chemical bonding and molecular shapes are fundamental concepts that explain how atoms stick together and why molecules look the way they do. Understanding these principles helps you predict properties like melting points, electrical conductivity, and solubility - essential knowledge for... Show more

# Ionic lattices

- high MP + BP - very strong electrostatic forces of attrachion
- lots energy to overcome
- conduct electricity in water /

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Ionic Lattices and Covalent Bonding

Ionic lattices are incredibly tough structures because of the strong electrostatic forces holding positive and negative ions together. This is why they have such high melting and boiling points - you need loads of energy to break these attractions apart.

These compounds become electrical conductors when dissolved in water or melted because the ions can finally move freely. Water is particularly good at dissolving ionic compounds since the positive hydrogen atoms attract negative ions whilst the negative oxygen atoms pull positive ions away from the lattice.

Covalent bonds form when atomic orbitals overlap, creating attraction between the shared electron pair and both nuclei. You'll encounter different types: sigma bonds formedbyss,sp,orheadonppoverlapformed by s-s, s-p, or head-on p-p overlap and pi bonds formedbysidewaysppoverlapformed by sideways p-p overlap. Single bonds contain one sigma bond, whilst double bonds have one sigma plus one pi bond.

Key Insight: Dative covalent bonds occur when one atom donates both electrons to form the pair - like in NH₄⁺ where ammonia accepts a hydrogen ion.

# Ionic lattices

- high MP + BP - very strong electrostatic forces of attrachion
- lots energy to overcome
- conduct electricity in water /

Sign up to see the contentIt's free!

Access to all documents

Improve your grades

Join milions of students

By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Molecular Shapes and Bond Angles

Predicting molecular geometry becomes straightforward once you understand electron pair repulsion. Molecules arrange themselves to minimise repulsion between electron pairs, creating predictable shapes with specific bond angles.

Linear molecules like CO₂ have 180° bond angles, whilst trigonal planar shapes (like BF₃) show 120° angles. The common tetrahedral arrangement gives you 109.5° angles, but this changes when lone pairs get involved.

Lone pairs are electron bullies - they push bonding pairs closer together. Pyramidal shapes (like NH₃) start tetrahedral but lone pairs reduce the bond angle to about 107°. Bent molecules like water have even smaller angles (104.5°) because two lone pairs create extra repulsion.

Octahedral molecules have six bonding pairs arranged with 90° bond angles, creating a shape that looks like two square pyramids stuck together.

Exam Tip: Remember that lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs - subtract about 2.5° for each lone pair from the standard tetrahedral angle.

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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user

The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.

Stefan S

iOS user

This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.

Samantha Klich

Android user

Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.

Anna

iOS user

Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good

Thomas R

iOS user

Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.

Basil

Android user

This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.

David K

iOS user

The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!

Sudenaz Ocak

Android user

In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.

Greenlight Bonnie

Android user

very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.

Rohan U

Android user

I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.

Xander S

iOS user

THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE THE SCHOOLGPT. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮

Elisha

iOS user

This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now

Paul T

iOS user