OCTAHEDRAL MOLECULAR GEOMETRY Meaning and
Definition
-
Octahedral molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms in a molecule that has eight nuclei surrounding a central atom. This arrangement resembles the shape of an octahedron, a regular polyhedron with eight triangular faces.
In an octahedral geometry, the central atom occupies the center of the octahedron, while the other eight atoms, molecules, or lone pairs are located at the corners of the octahedron. The central atom is bonded to six surrounding atoms or groups, and the bond angles between the central atom and the surrounding atoms are all equal, measuring approximately 90 degrees.
This molecular geometry is commonly observed in compounds where the central atom is surrounded by six identical ligands or other groups. It can be depicted using various notations, such as AX₆ (notation used in VSEPR theory), where A represents the central atom and X represents the surrounding atoms or groups.
Octahedral molecular geometry is often found in transition metal complexes, such as coordination compounds, where the central atom is a transition metal ion and the surrounding ligands can be a combination of different molecules or anions. This arrangement of atoms in an octahedral geometry provides stability to the molecule, as the bonding electrons and lone pairs are evenly distributed around the central atom, minimizing repulsion between electron pairs.
