What is the difference between electron geometry and molecule geometry?

Considering the definition of electron geometry and molecule geometry, the main difference between electronic geometry and molecular geometry is that electronic geometry includes the bonds and pairs of electrons in the molecule, whereas molecular geometry includes only the number of bonds that are present in a molecule.

Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms that make up a molecule. It is a determinant of many of the compound's properties, for example, boiling point, density, or solubility.

Molecular geometry can be predicted using the Valencia Shell Electronic Pair Repulsion Theory, which is based on the fact that electrons tend to repel each other (due to similar charges). For this reason, the orbitals that contain the electrons are oriented in such a way that they are as far away from each other.

On the other hand, electronic geometry is the way in which electrons are arranged in space, considering all the valence pairs of the central atom. Generally matches molecular geometry but not always.

So, the electron geometry depends on the structure of the electrons of the central atom of a molecule, while the molecular geometry depends on whether other atoms are attached to the central atom or if there are pairs of free electrons.

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Electron geometry looks at both the lone pairs and bonding pairs. Molecular geometry considers  only the bonding pairs.

Explanation:

(a) Electron geometry

The electron geometry refers to the arrangement of the electrons about an atom.

For example, if "they" ask you to draw the structure of NH₃, you get something like the first diagram below.

You need four orbitals around N to hold the eight valence electrons.

The orbitals holding the electrons point toward the corners of a tetrahedron.

We say that the electron geometry of NH₃ is tetrahedral.

(b) Molecular shape

However, we can't "see" the electrons experimentally. We can detect only the position of the atoms in the molecule.  

We "see" the N atom on top of a three-sided pyramid with H atoms at the corners of the base.

We say that the molecular shape is trigonal pyramidal.

m=9

step-by-step explanation: