D) Six electron pairs

If there are six electron pairs on the central atom, the angle between the bonds is 90^o.

Molecules which adopt this shape are said to be OCTAHEDRAL.

E.g. SF₆

If there are 4 bonding pairs and 2 lone pairs, the bonded pairs are at 90^o in the plane and the lone pairs at 180^o. The angles are still exactly 90^o because the lone pairs are opposite each other so their repulsion cancels out.

Molecules which adopt this shape are said to be SQUARE PLANAR.

E.g. XeF₄, ClF₄^-

SUMMARY OF MOLECULAR SHAPES

		Valence shell electron pairs	Bonding pairs	Lone pairs	shape	Bond Angle (o)
					LINEAR
					TRIGONAL PLANAR
					BENT	115 - 118

					TETRAHEDRAL	109.5
					TRIGONAL PYRAMIDAL
					BENT	104.5
					TRIGONAL BIPYRAMIDAL	90 and 120
					OCTAHEDRAL
					SQUARE PLANAR