Examples
PCl3
| Central atom: | P |  |
|---|---|---|
| P contributes: | 5 e− | |
| 3 x Cl contibute: | 3 e− | |
| Total VSE: | 8 | |
| Total VSEP: | 4 | |
| Geometry: | Trigonal pyramidal (based on tetrahedral) | |
Note
- Cl–P–Cl bond angle is less than 109° due to lone-pair:bonding-pair repulsion being greater than bonding-pair:bonding-pair repulsion