Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory (VSEPR) is a set of rules whereby the chemist may predict the shape of an isolated molecule. It is based on the premise that groups of electrons surrounding a central atom repel each other, and that to minimize the overall energy of the molecule, these groups of electrons try to get as far apart as possible. Groups of electrons can refer to electrons that participate in a bond (single, double, or triple) to another atom, or to non-bonding electrons (e.g. lone pair electrons).

The ideal electronic symmetry of a molecule consisting of a central atom surrounded by a number of substituents (bonded atoms and non-bonding electrons) is characteristic of the total number of substituents, and is determined solely by geometric considerations -- the substituents are arranged so as to maximize the distances amongst them. VSEPR is useful for predicting the shape of a molecule when there are between 2 and 6 substituents around the central atom (the case of one substituent is not discussed because it is trivial -- the only possible shape for such a molecule is linear). That means that there are only five unique electronic geometries to remember. For each electronic geometry, there may be a number of different molecular geometries (the shape of the molecule when only bonded atoms, not non-bonding electrons are considered). Molecular geometries are really just special cases of the parent electronic geometry -- this will hopefully be evident from the models shown on the pages linked to this one.

Since the molecular geometry is determined by how many bonding and non-bonding electron groups surround the central atom, the first thing one needs to do is count how many of each there are. There is a notation that simplifies this bookkeeping:

The A represents the central atom, B represents the electron groups that form bonds to other atoms, and E represents the non-bonding electron groups. The subscripts, x and y, indicate how many of each kind are present.

AB4 bonding groups: 4 non-bonding groups: 0	AB3E bonding groups: 3 non-bonding groups: 1	AB2E2 bonding groups: 2 non-bonding groups: 2
CH4 methane	NH3 ammonia	H2O water

                          AB4             AB3E            AB2E2
                        -------         --------        ---------
    bonding groups:        4                3               2
non-bonding groups:        0                1               2
  example compound:  CH4 (methane)    NH3 (ammonia)    H2O (water)

Note that bonding "electron groups" does not necessarily imply single bonds; it can mean double or triple bonds as well:

AB2 bonding groups: 2 non-bonding groups: 0

CO2 Carbon Dioxide

                                      AB2
                                    -------
             bonding groups:           2
         non-bonding groups:           0 
           example compound:  C02 (carbon dioxide)

An incidental benefit of using the ABE notation is that it provides a convenient way of remembering the hybridization at the central atom. The total number of substituents (bonding plus non-bonding groups) is equal to the number of atomic orbitals that participate in the hybrid orbital.

Molecule	ABE representation	# of substituents	Hybridization
CH4	AB4	4	sp3
NH3	AB3E	4	sp3
H2O	AB2E2	4	sp3
CO2	AB2	2	sp
SF6	AB6	6	sp3d2
I3- ion	AB2E3	5	sp3d

Molecule    ABE Representation    # of Substituents    Hybridization
  CH4             AB4                      4                sp3
  NH3             AB3E                     4                sp3
  H2O             AB2E2                    4                sp3
  CO2             AB2                      2                sp
  SF6             AB6                      6                sp3d2
  (I3)- ion       AB2E3                    5                sp3d

Displayed in the following table are the five most important electronic symmetries. Each row in the table is linked to a page that shows the different molecular symmetries possible for that electronic symmetry.

Class	Hybridization	Electronic Symmetry
AB2	sp	linear
AB3	sp2	trigonal planar
AB4	sp3	tetrahedral
AB5	sp3d	trigonal bipyramidal
AB6	sp3d2	octahedral

        Class    Hybridization    Electronic Symmetry
        -----    -------------    -------------------
         AB2         sp                 linear
         AB3         sp2            trigonal planar
         AB4         sp3              tetrahedral
         AB5         sp3d         trigonal bipyramidal
         AB6         sp3d2            octahedral