In VSEPR theory, electron pairs around the central atom arrange themselves to:

In VSEPR theory, electron pairs around the central atom arrange themselves to:

• A. Minimize electron-nuclear attraction
• B. Maximize electron repulsion
• C. Minimize repulsion between electron pairs
• D. Minimize electron shielding

Answer: (C)

Electron pairs repel each other, and VSEPR predicts they arrange to minimize this repulsion. Around a central atom, all electron domains—whether they are bonding pairs or lone pairs—push away from one another, so the arrangement that lowers the overall repulsion places them as far apart as possible in three-dimensional space. This is why molecular shapes fall into the familiar geometries like linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, and so on. Lone pairs occupy more space than bonding pairs, so their presence twists bond angles a bit to reduce repulsion even further, which explains deviations from ideal angles. The other ideas aren’t the driving force: electron-nuclear attraction doesn’t set the geometry, maximizing repulsion would be unstable, and shielding describes how inner electrons affect nuclear pull rather than how electron domains arrange themselves.

Electron pairs repel each other, and VSEPR predicts they arrange to minimize this repulsion. Around a central atom, all electron domains—whether they are bonding pairs or lone pairs—push away from one another, so the arrangement that lowers the overall repulsion places them as far apart as possible in three-dimensional space. This is why molecular shapes fall into the familiar geometries like linear, trigonal planar, tetrahedral, and so on. Lone pairs occupy more space than bonding pairs, so their presence twists bond angles a bit to reduce repulsion even further, which explains deviations from ideal angles. The other ideas aren’t the driving force: electron-nuclear attraction doesn’t set the geometry, maximizing repulsion would be unstable, and shielding describes how inner electrons affect nuclear pull rather than how electron domains arrange themselves.