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: What hybridization corresponds to trigonal planar geometry?

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

Flashcard 2: What hybridization corresponds to trigonal planar geometry?

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

Flashcard 3: 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 4: Determine the molecular geometry of ClF₃.

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

Flashcard 5: 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 6: 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 7: What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and no lone pairs?

Answer: Linear. Two bonding pairs arrange in straight line to minimize repulsion.

Flashcard 8: Determine the hybridization of an atom with 2 sigma bonds and 2 lone pairs.

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

Flashcard 9: 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 10: What hybridization corresponds to a linear molecular geometry?

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

Flashcard 11: 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 12: 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 13: 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 14: Identify the hybridization of the central atom in ethyne ($C_2H_2$).

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

Flashcard 15: 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 16: 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 17: What is the molecular geometry of water (H₂O)?

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

Flashcard 18: Determine the molecular geometry of ClF₃.

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

Flashcard 19: 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 20: What is the hybridization of the central atom in carbon dioxide (CO₂)?

Answer: $sp$. Two double bonds around carbon create two electron domains.

Flashcard 21: 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 22: What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethene (C₂H₄)?

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

Flashcard 23: 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 24: 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 25: 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 26: What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethene (C₂H₄)?

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

Flashcard 27: What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethene ($\mathrm{C_2H_4}$)?

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

Flashcard 28: 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 29: 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 30: 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 31: What is the bond angle in a molecule with octahedral geometry?

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

Flashcard 32: 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 33: Identify the hybridization of the central atom in ethyne (C₂H₂).

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

Flashcard 34: 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 35: 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 36: Identify the hybridization of the central atom in ethyne (C₂H₂).

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

Flashcard 37: Identify the electron geometry of a molecule with 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair.

Answer: Trigonal Bipyramidal. Electron geometry considers all five electron domains, not just bonding.

Flashcard 38: 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 39: Identify the electron geometry for a molecule with 6 electron domains.

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

Flashcard 40: What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 5 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair?

Answer: Square Pyramidal. One lone pair distorts octahedral to create square pyramid.

Flashcard 41: Identify the bond angle in a molecule with trigonal bipyramidal geometry.

Answer: 90° and 120°. Axial positions are 90° from equatorial; equatorial are 120° apart.

Flashcard 42: What is the bond angle in a molecule with octahedral geometry?

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

Flashcard 43: 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 44: 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 45: What is the molecular geometry of water (H₂O)?

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

Flashcard 46: 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 47: What is the hybridization of the central atom in carbon dioxide (CO₂)?

Answer: $sp$. Two double bonds around carbon create two electron domains.

Flashcard 48: What is the hybridization of the central atom in methane (CH₄)?

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

Flashcard 49: What is the bond angle in a molecule with tetrahedral geometry?

Answer: 109.5°. Four electron domains arrange at equal angles in 3D space.

Flashcard 50: What is the hybridization of the central atom in methane (CH₄)?

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

Flashcard 51: What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and no lone pairs?

Answer: Linear. Two bonding pairs arrange in straight line to minimize repulsion.

Flashcard 52: Determine the molecular geometry of SF₆.

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

Flashcard 53: What does VSEPR stand for in chemistry?

Answer: Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion. Theory that predicts molecular geometry based on electron pair repulsion.

Flashcard 54: Identify the electron geometry for a molecule with 6 electron domains.

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

Flashcard 55: What is the hybridization of the central atom in methane (CH₄)?

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

Flashcard 56: 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 57: What is the bond angle in a molecule with linear geometry?

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

Flashcard 58: 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 59: 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 60: 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 61: Identify the bond angle in a molecule with trigonal bipyramidal geometry.

Answer: 90° and 120°. Axial positions are 90° from equatorial; equatorial are 120° apart.

Flashcard 62: 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 63: 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 64: 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 65: 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 66: What is the hybridization of the carbon atom in ethene ($C_2H_4$)?

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

Flashcard 67: 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 68: What is the hybridization of the central atom in carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)?

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

Flashcard 69: 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 70: What is the bond angle in a molecule with octahedral geometry?

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

Flashcard 71: What is the molecular geometry of water (H₂O)?

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

Flashcard 72: 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 73: 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 74: Determine the molecular geometry of XeF₂.

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

Flashcard 75: Identify the bond angle in a molecule with trigonal bipyramidal geometry.

Answer: 90° and 120°. Axial positions are 90° from equatorial; equatorial are 120° apart.

Flashcard 76: 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 77: 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 78: 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 79: 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 80: Identify the electron geometry for a molecule with 6 electron domains.

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

Flashcard 81: Identify the electron geometry of a molecule with 4 bonding pairs and 1 lone pair.

Answer: Trigonal Bipyramidal. Electron geometry considers all five electron domains, not just bonding.

Flashcard 82: 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 83: 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 84: 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 85: Determine the molecular geometry of ClF₃.

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

Flashcard 86: What is the molecular geometry of a molecule with 2 bonding pairs and no lone pairs?

Answer: Linear. Two bonding pairs arrange in straight line to minimize repulsion.

Flashcard 87: Determine the molecular geometry of XeF₂.

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

Flashcard 88: Determine the molecular geometry of SF₆.

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

Flashcard 89: 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 90: 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 91: Determine the molecular geometry of XeF₂.

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

Flashcard 92: What hybridization corresponds to trigonal planar geometry?

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

Flashcard 93: 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 94: What is the hybridization of the central atom in carbon dioxide (CO₂)?

Answer: $sp$. Two double bonds around carbon create two electron domains.

Flashcard 95: What hybridization corresponds to a linear molecular geometry?

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

Flashcard 96: What is the hybridization of the nitrogen atom in ammonia (NH₃)?

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

Flashcard 97: 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 98: What is the bond angle in a molecule with linear geometry?

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

Flashcard 99: 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 100: What hybridization corresponds to a linear molecular geometry?

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