AP Chemistry Flashcards: Vsepr And Hybridization

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Vsepr And Hybridization, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Chemistry.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: Identify the electron geometry for a molecule with 3 electron domains.

Answer: Trigonal Planar. Three electron domains spread in a flat plane around central atom.

Flashcard 2: Identify the electron geometry of a molecule with 5 bonding pairs and no lone pairs.

Answer: Trigonal Bipyramidal. Five electron domains arrange in bipyramidal shape with axial and equatorial positions.

Flashcard 3: What is the molecular geometry for a molecule with 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair?

Answer: Seesaw. One lone pair distorts trigonal bipyramidal to seesaw shape.

Flashcard 4: State the hybridization of the central atom in a molecule with tetrahedral geometry.

Answer: $sp^3$. Four electron domains require four hybrid orbitals from $s$ and three $p$ orbitals.

Flashcard 5: What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 3 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair?

Answer: Trigonal Pyramidal. Lone pair occupies more space, pushing bonding pairs into pyramid shape.

Flashcard 6: Identify the electron geometry for a molecule with 2 electron domains.

Answer: Linear. Two electron domains arrange in a straight line to minimize repulsion.

Flashcard 7: Determine the molecular geometry of ClF₃.

Answer: T-shaped. Three bonding pairs and two lone pairs create T-shaped arrangement.

Flashcard 8: What is the bond angle in a molecule with octahedral geometry?

Answer: 90°. Adjacent bonds in octahedral geometry are perpendicular.

Flashcard 9: Which molecular geometry does a molecule with 4 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs have?

Answer: Square Planar. Two axial lone pairs force bonding pairs into a square arrangement.

Flashcard 10: What is the molecular geometry of water (H₂O)?

Answer: Bent. Two lone pairs on oxygen force bonding pairs into bent arrangement.

Flashcard 11: Identify the molecular geometry for a molecule with 5 bonding pairs and no lone pairs.

Answer: Trigonal Bipyramidal. Five bonding pairs create bipyramidal shape with axial and equatorial bonds.

Flashcard 12: Which molecular shape results from 2 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs?

Answer: Bent. Four electron domains with two lone pairs creates bent molecular shape.

Flashcard 13: Identify the molecular geometry for a molecule with 6 electron groups and no lone pairs.

Answer: Octahedral. Six electron groups arrange symmetrically around central atom.

Flashcard 14: Identify the molecular geometry for a molecule with 3 bonding pairs and no lone pairs.

Answer: Trigonal Planar. Three bonding pairs arrange in flat triangular shape.

Flashcard 15: What is the hybridization of the nitrogen atom in ammonia ($\mathrm{NH_3}$)?

Answer: $sp^3$. Four electron domains around nitrogen (3 bonds + 1 lone pair) need $sp^3$.

Flashcard 16: What is the hybridization of the central atom in methane (CH₄)?

Answer: $sp^3$. Four bonding pairs around carbon require $sp^3$ hybridization.

Flashcard 17: Determine the hybridization of an atom with 3 sigma bonds and 1 lone pair.

Answer: $sp^3$. Total of four electron domains requires four hybrid orbitals.

Flashcard 18: What is the bond angle in a molecule with trigonal planar geometry?

Answer: 120°. Three electron domains spread equally around 360° gives 120° angles.

Flashcard 19: Determine the molecular geometry of XeF₂.

Answer: Linear. Three lone pairs occupy equatorial positions, leaving linear molecular shape.

Flashcard 20: What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair?

Answer: Bent. Lone pair forces two bonding pairs into bent arrangement.

Flashcard 21: Determine the molecular geometry of SF₆.

Answer: Octahedral. Six bonding pairs around sulfur with no lone pairs gives octahedral shape.

Flashcard 22: Identify the electron geometry for a molecule with 6 electron domains.

Answer: Octahedral. Electron geometry includes all six electron domains around central atom.

Flashcard 23: Identify the hybridization of the central atom in ethyne (C₂H₂).

Answer: $sp$. Triple bond creates two electron domains requiring $sp$ hybridization.

Flashcard 24: What hybridization corresponds to trigonal planar geometry?

Answer: $sp^2$. Three electron domains require three hybrid orbitals from $s$ and two $p$.

Flashcard 25: Identify the molecular geometry of a molecule with 4 bonding pairs and no lone pairs.

Answer: Tetrahedral. Four bonding pairs arrange in three-dimensional tetrahedral shape.

Flashcard 26: What is the hybridization of the central atom in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)?

Answer: $sp^3$. Four bonding pairs around carbon require $sp^3$ hybridization.

Flashcard 27: What is the hybridization of the central atom in boron trifluoride (BF₃)?

Answer: $sp^2$. Three bonding pairs around boron require $sp^2$ hybridization.

Flashcard 28: What is the bond angle in a molecule with linear geometry?

Answer: 180°. Two electron domains are positioned directly opposite each other.

Flashcard 29: Determine the hybridization of an atom with 3 sigma bonds and no lone pairs.

Answer: $sp^2$. Three electron domains require $s$ + two $p$ hybrid orbitals.

Flashcard 30: What hybridization corresponds to a linear molecular geometry?

Answer: $sp$. Two electron domains require two hybrid orbitals from $s$ and $p$.