Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label VSEPR fails

Orbital Wars: When VSEPR Theory Fails (And Why It’s Okay)

Orbital Wars: When VSEPR Theory Fails Spectacularly | SM-EDUCATE Chemistry 🧪 SM-EDUCATE CHEMISTRY June 07, 2026 Orbital Wars: When VSEPR Theory Fails Spectacularly ⚛️ Electron repulsion · Expanded octets · d‑orbital participation · Inorganic deep dive 📤 SHARE Inorganic Chemistry VSEPR Theory Molecular Geometry Chemical Bonding Expanded Octets Visual Learning Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) is a reliable workhorse: predict the shape of a molecule by counting electron domains and assuming they repel each other. But some molecules laugh at VSEPR. They twist, distort, or adopt geometries that defy simple electron‑pair repulsion. Here’s where the orbital wars begin — and where VSEPR loses. Octahedral (VSEPR works) Trigonal b...