HCO3- Molecular Geometry / Shape and Bond Angles

A quick explanation of the molecular geometry of HCO3- including a description of the HCO3- bond angles.

Looking at the HCO3- Lewis structure we can see that there are three atoms attached to the central Carbon (C) atom and that there are no lone pairs of electron (on the central C).  Based on VSEPR Theory (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory) the electron clouds of the atoms around the Carbon will repel each other.  As a result they will be pushed apart giving the HCO3- molecule a trigonal planar molecular geometry or shape.

The HCO3- bond angle will be about 109 degrees since it has a trigonal planar molecular geometry.

Helpful Resources:

• How to Draw Lewis Structures: How to Draw Lewis Structures: Five Ea...
• Molecular Geometry and VSEPR Explained: Molecular Geometry: Rules, Examples, ...
• Using the AXE Method for Molecular Geo:  Molecular Geometry, Bond Angle, Hybri...

• Molecular Geo App: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/m...

Get more chemistry help at http://www.breslyn.org

Drawing/writing done in InkScape. Screen capture done with Camtasia Studio 4.0. Done on a Dell Dimension laptop computer with a Wacom digital tablet (Bamboo).

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