Shapes of Molecules

AX3 AX3
Shape: trigonal planar
Steric Number: 3
Lone Pairs: 0
Polar/NonPolar: NonPolar
Hybridization: sp2
Examples: BF3, CO32-
GIF File: ax3.gif (66K)
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NOTES: This molecule is made up of 3 equally spaced sp2 hybrid orbitals arranged at 120o angles. The shape of the orbitals is planar triangular. Since there is an atom at the end of each orbital, the shape of the molecule is also planar triangular.