Chime Structures - Tetrahedral Shape

Molecules of methane, CH4, ammonia, NH3, and water, H2O, all have 4 electron groups around their central atom, so they all have a tetrahedral shape, which yields bond angles of about 109.5°. For CH4 molecules, all 4 groups are bond groups. The NH3 molecules have 3 bond groups and 1 lone pair, and the H2O molecules have 2 bond groups and 2 lone pairs. 

If you have trouble viewing these structures, click here.

 

Methane, CH4

Ammonia, NH3

Water, H2O

 

Do the following to manipulate the molecules.

Click and hold the left mouse button and move the mouse to rotate a molecule.

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To view the structures, you need the Chime plug-in. If you do not already have it, click on the image below.

chemscape.gif (2214 bytes)

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Copyright 2012 Mark Bishop markbishop@preparatorychemistry.com