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An electron group can be an electron pair, a lone pair, a single unpaired electron, a double bond or a triple bond on the center atom. Using the VSEPR theory, the electron bond pairs and lone pairs on the center atom will help us predict the shape of a molecule.
Correspondingly, what is the difference between electron groups and bonding groups?
The repulsive forces between bonding and non-bonding electrons determine the three-dimensional geometry of the “groups” of electrons around a central atom. A “group” of electrons can be a single bond, double bond, triple bond, or a lone pair of electrons.
Herein, what is the electron group arrangement of ch4?
For example; four electron pairs are distributed in a tetrahedral shape. If these are all bond pairs the molecular geometry is tetrahedral (e.g. CH4). If there is one lone pair of electrons and three bond pairs the resulting molecular geometry is trigonal pyramidal (e.g. NH3).
The four electron groups are the 2 single bonds to Hydrogen and the 2 lone pairs of Oxygen. Since water has two lone pairs it's molecular shape is bent. According to the VSEPR theory, the electrons want to minimize repulsion, so as a result, the lone pairs are adjacent from each other.