CH2O Molecular Geometry / Shape and Bond Angles

A quick explanation of the molecular geometry of CH2O including a description of the CH2O bond angles.

Looking at the CH2O Lewis structure we can see that there are three atoms attached to the central Carbon (C) and that there are no lone pair electrons (on the central Carbon).  Based on VSEPR Theory (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion Theory) these electron clouds around these atoms will repel each other.  As a result they will be pushed down giving the CH2O molecule a Trigonal Planar molecular geometry or shape.

The CH2O bond angle will be 120 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).

• #education
• #ch2o_molecular_geometry
• #ch2o_shape
• #molecular_geometry_of_ch2o
• #molecular_shape_of_ch2o
• #ch2o_bond_angles
• #bond_angles_of_ch2o
• #molecular_geometry_for_ch2o
• #molecular_shape_of_ch2o
• #molecule_shape_of_ch2o
• #molecular_geometry
• #molecular_shape
• #vspre
• #valence_shell_pair_repulsion_theory
• #trigonal_planar