How do chemists predict the shapes of molecules?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Due to the attraction between electrons, valence electrons will be arranged as close to each other as possible.
Due to the attraction between electrons, valence electrons will be arranged as close to each other as possible.

Due to the repulsion between electrons, valence electrons will be arranged as far apart from each other as possible.
Due to the repulsion between electrons, valence electrons will be arranged as far apart from each other as possible.

Chemists can't predict the shape of molecules, because the attractive forces between valence electrons are unpredictable.
Chemists can't predict the shape of molecules, because the attractive forces between valence electrons are unpredictable.

Due to the repulsion between electrons, valence electrons will be arranged as close to each other as possible.
Due to the repulsion between electrons, valence electrons will be arranged as close to each other as possible.

Answer 1

The correct response is:

Due to the repulsion between electrons, valence electrons will be arranged as far apart from each other as possible.

This principle is based on the Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory, which helps chemists predict the three-dimensional shapes of molecules by considering the repulsive interactions between electron pairs in the valence shell.