Chemistry / Unit 6 Chem 1048 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Four-Domain Geometry: Tetrahedral, Trigonal Pyramidal, and Bent
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The idea
A central atom with four electron domains is tetrahedral with no lone pairs, trigonal pyramidal with one, and bent with two.
In practice
Methane, no lone pairs, is tetrahedral; ammonia, one lone pair, is trigonal pyramidal; water, two, is bent.
Where people slip
All three share the same tetrahedral electron-pair geometry; their molecular geometries differ only by lone-pair count.
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