AX4 AX3E and AX2E2 Examples

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AX₄,AX₃E and AX₂E₂Configurations

Molecules in this category may have three, four or five atoms. The configuration is specified as AX₄ for the case with five total atoms and AX₃E for the case with four atoms and AX₂E₃for the case with three. Remeber the "E" represents electron group(s) that not involved in bonding, the "X" atoms around the central atom and the "A" is the central atom. Molecules of the type AX₄ are tetrahedral, molecules of the type AX₃E are trigonal pyramidal and molecules of the type AX₂E₂ are bent.

**Example AX₄ Molecules (Tetrahedral)**
Formula	Lewis Structure	Live 3-D view	Download for Jmol/Rasmol
CH₄			CH4.pdb
CCl₄			CCl4.pdb

**Example AX₃E Molecules (Trigonal Pyramidal)**
Formula	Lewis Structure	Live 3-D view	Download for Jmol/Rasmol
NF₃			NF3.pdb
ClO₃^-			ClO3(minus).pdb

**Example AX₂E₂ Molecules (Bent)**
Formula	Lewis Structure	Live 3-D view	Download for Jmol/Rasmol
H₂O			H2O.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.