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Tetrahedral Geometry

 

Molecules of methane, CH4, ammonia, NH3, and water, H2O, all have four electron groups around their central atom, so they all have a tetrahedral shape and bond angles of about 109.5°. For CH4 molecules, all four groups are bond groups. The NH3 molecules have three bond groups and one lone pair, and the H2O molecules have two bond groups and two lone pairs. Click on the links below to see structures for these three substances.

 

 Click here to view the structure of methane.


 Click here to view the structure of ammonia.


 Click here to view the structure of water.