any tips on learning shapes of molecules and bond angles?

Helpstudent402

11

Theres 12 individual shapes I need to learn so I just wanted to know if there was anything I should know about.

Reply 1

Native087

18

Very tough topic to learn, I recommend a chart with the columns being the shape, bond angle, lone pair etc.

Reply 2

Da14a

16

Know what the shape names actually mean - e.g. trigonal planar is just a triangle of electron pairs across a plane

Reply 3

Helpstudent402

OP

11

Original post by Da14a

Know what the shape names actually mean - e.g. trigonal planar is just a triangle of electron pairs across a plane

Original post by Native087

Very tough topic to learn, I recommend a chart with the columns being the shape, bond angle, lone pair etc.

Do you guys believe that I should just try and memorize them then?

Reply 4

Native087

18

Original post by Helpstudent402

Do you guys believe that I should just try and memorize them then?

Yes, they are relatively big parts on the exam. Normally there is a section dedicated solely to that topic, and then some marks scattered throughout based on shapes or bond angles.

Reply 5

Da14a

16

Original post by Helpstudent402

Do you guys believe that I should just try and memorize them then?

Yes they are free marks if you memorize them.

Reply 6

5hyl33n

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by Helpstudent402

Theres 12 individual shapes I need to learn so I just wanted to know if there was anything I should know about.

Hi!

This is how I learnt them:

1. Make a chart
When I first learnt the shapes of molecules, I made a chart with columns (Name, Pairs of electrons, Bond angle, Example etc). I then filled them in with each column being a different colour.

2. Learn them
This is the boring bit but it's a great feeling once you've memorised them. I did this step on a whiteboard but scrap paper will do. I looked at the chart I had made and tried to memorise by associating what I already knew. For example, a linear molecule reminded me of a line which is straight, so therefore it will be 180 degrees.
I made another table on a whiteboard and filled it as best as I could without looking. Then I looked back at my chart after and filled in the parts I couldn't remember in a different colour. The different colours made it easier for me to remember what I had missed out which I consequently remembered when I tried again!

3. Questions
Learning the shapes of molecules is great and all but you can still lose marks if you don't know how to identify a molecule's shape. Physics and Maths Tutor is great for questions: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/

The best thing to do is go over your shapes of molecules frequently so you don't forget them! They crop up somehow in tests and the more practice you do, the easier it will become.

I hope this helped.

Reply 7

Helpstudent402

OP

11

Original post by 5hyl33n

Hi!

This is how I learnt them:

1. Make a chart
When I first learnt the shapes of molecules, I made a chart with columns (Name, Pairs of electrons, Bond angle, Example etc). I then filled them in with each column being a different colour.

2. Learn them
This is the boring bit but it's a great feeling once you've memorised them. I did this step on a whiteboard but scrap paper will do. I looked at the chart I had made and tried to memorise by associating what I already knew. For example, a linear molecule reminded me of a line which is straight, so therefore it will be 180 degrees.
I made another table on a whiteboard and filled it as best as I could without looking. Then I looked back at my chart after and filled in the parts I couldn't remember in a different colour. The different colours made it easier for me to remember what I had missed out which I consequently remembered when I tried again!

3. Questions
Learning the shapes of molecules is great and all but you can still lose marks if you don't know how to identify a molecule's shape. Physics and Maths Tutor is great for questions: https://www.physicsandmathstutor.com/

The best thing to do is go over your shapes of molecules frequently so you don't forget them! They crop up somehow in tests and the more practice you do, the easier it will become.

I hope this helped.

Original post by Da14a

Yes they are free marks if you memorize them.

Original post by Native087

Yes, they are relatively big parts on the exam. Normally there is a section dedicated solely to that topic, and then some marks scattered throughout based on shapes or bond angles.