Bent molecular geometry

A molecular shape in which a central atom bonds to two atoms at an angle, producing a V-shaped arrangement rather than a straight line.

Valence shell electron pair repulsion theory: A model that predicts molecular shapes by treating regions of valence electron density as mutually repelling. It predicts bent shapes when lone pairs and bonding pairs arrange to reduce repulsion.
Lewis structure: A diagram showing atoms, bonds, and valence electron pairs in a molecule or ion. Counting its bonds and lone pairs reveals the central atom’s electron domains.
Water: A chemical compound with formula H₂O, consisting of one oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms. Water is the familiar bent molecule; two oxygen lone pairs narrow its H–O–H angle.
Linear molecular geometry: A molecular shape in which atoms lie along a straight line, with a bond angle of 180 degrees. It is the two-coordinate alternative when the central atom’s bonds point in opposite directions.
Molecular polarity: The separation and distribution of electrical charge across a molecule. A bent arrangement can prevent bond dipoles from canceling, as in water.
Bond angle: The angle between two bonds that share an atom. It quantifies how far a bent molecule departs from a linear arrangement.
Valence electron: An electron in an atom’s outer shell that can participate in bonding. Valence electrons determine how many bonds and lone pairs surround the central atom.
Sulfur dioxide: A molecule with formula SO₂, consisting of sulfur bonded to two oxygen atoms. Its bent arrangement illustrates molecular geometry with a different central element.
Trigonal planar molecular geometry: A shape with three bonded atoms arranged around a central atom in one plane, about 120 degrees apart. It shares a planar arrangement but has three bonded neighbors instead of two.
Dipole moment: A vector measure of the separation of positive and negative charge. Its direction and magnitude can reveal whether a bent molecule has a net dipole.

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VSEPR theoryBroader topic: Lone pairs can turn a tetrahedral or trigonal-planar domain arrangement into a bent molecule.