VSEPR is a simple theory used to predict the shape of a molecule. It assumes that groups of electrons, either non-bonding (lone pairs) or groups of bonding electrons (this would include ALL bonding electrons to an atom, i.e. single double, or triple bonds) will arrange themselves around the central atom to minimize the electron-electron repulsions. This results in five basic VSEPR electronic geometry's; linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal, and octahedral, based on two, three, four, five and six groups of electrons respectively. There maybe more than one molecular geometry associated with each electronic geometry. The electronic geometry refers to ALL electrons, both bonding and non-bonding, that surround the central atom. The molecular geometry refers to the relative locations of only the atoms.

Note: the atom colors are:

B C N O F S Br I P Te Xe H

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