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

Responses

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.

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.

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 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.

1 answer

The correct response is:

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

This is based on the principle of VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory, which states that the shape of a molecule is determined by the arrangement of its electron pairs to minimize repulsion.