Molecule Shapes (VSEPR)
Drag bonds and lone pairs onto a central atom, rotate it in 3D, and explore real molecules.
Bonding
Lone Pairs
Molecule
Name
About the Molecule Shapes (VSEPR)
Free interactive VSEPR simulation in the style of a classroom lab. Drag single, double and triple bonds and lone pairs onto a central atom, rotate the 3D model, show bond angles and molecular geometry names, then explore real molecules like H2O, NH3, CH4, BF3, SF4 and XeF4. Built for molecules, the molecule shapes (vsepr) runs instantly in your browser: change a setting or drag an object and the result updates at once, so you learn by trying things out rather than only reading about them.
Drag bonds and lone pairs onto a central atom, rotate it in 3D, and explore real molecules. Use it to explore molecules ideas at your own pace, then check what you found against the key ideas further down this page.
How to use the Molecule Shapes (VSEPR)
- Press "+ Single bond", "+ Double bond", "+ Triple bond", "+ Lone pair" to start, reset or change what is happening.
- Where you see a glowing handle, object, weight or atom, drag it with your mouse or finger. Everything responds in real time.
- Watch the readouts and graphs update as you experiment, and compare what you see with the key ideas below.
Things to try
- Drag two single bonds in, then add two lone pairs. What shape do you get?
- Turn on Show Bond Angles and Molecule Geometry, then add a lone pair to CH4-like models and watch the angles shrink.
- Switch to Real Molecules and compare H2O, NH3 and CH4. All are tetrahedral electron geometry with different shapes.
- Can you build a square planar molecule? Hint: four bonds and two lone pairs.
Key ideas you can learn
- Electron groups repel each other and spread as far apart as possible.
- Lone pairs take up more room than bonds and squeeze the bond angles.
- Molecular shape is named by the atoms only, while electron geometry counts lone pairs too.
Where this is used in the real world
Molecular shape controls how enzymes work, how drugs fit receptors, why water is polar, and how materials behave.
Who is this simulation for?
Chemistry and biology students learning bonding and molecular shape, and teachers who need an interactive 3D model instead of a textbook drawing.
For teachers: project it on the board, let students predict what will happen, then run it together. For students: change one thing at a time and write down what changes.
Frequently asked questions
What does VSEPR stand for?
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion. Electron groups around a central atom repel each other, which sets the shape of the molecule.
Why is water bent and not linear?
Oxygen has two bonds and two lone pairs. The four groups arrange tetrahedrally, so the two atoms form a bent shape of about 104.5°.
Is the Molecule Shapes (VSEPR) free to use?
Yes. It is completely free, with no signup, no download and no ads inside the simulation. It runs in your web browser.
Does the Molecule Shapes (VSEPR) work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. It uses touch as well as the mouse, so you can drag objects with your finger. A larger screen makes the controls easier to see.