AX3 and AX2E examples

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AX₃and AX₂E Configurations

Molecules in this category may have three or four atoms. The configuration is specified as AX₃ for the case with four total atoms and AX₂E for the case with only three atoms. The "E" represents the electron group that is not involved in bonding. Molecules of the type AX₃ are trigonal planar and molecules of the type AX₂E are bent.

**Example AX₃ Molecules (Trigonal Planar)**
Formula	Lewis Structure	Live 3-D view	Download for Jmol/Rasmol
BF₃			BF3.pdb
CO₃^2-			CO3(minus2).pdb
SO₃			SO3.pdb

**Example AX₂E Molecules (bent)**
Formula	Lewis Structure	Live 3-D view	Download for Jmol/Rasmol
SO₂	The bottom structure is the best based on the formal charges (small numbers next to each atom).		SO2.pdb

Molecular Viewer Instructions

Brief Instructions for Molecular Viewer
(The Open Source Applet JSmol/Jmol)

When you select a molecule you will see a rotating image of the molecule displayed above using the Jmol/JSmol applet.

Rotate the molecule	Hold down the mouse button and drag the cursor over the image.
Zoom the view	Hold down the shift key and the mouse button while dragging up or down over the image
Start/stop automatic spin	Right-click over the image and select "on" or "off" from the "Spin" submenu. On a single button mouse try holding the <option>, <ctrl> or <cmd> keys down while holding the mouse button.

Additional instructions for the viewer.

If your browser is not Javascript capable you can still download the molecule files readable by Jmol by clicking on the link and then use Jmol to view the files. See the tutorial introduction for more information.