Final answer:
The VSEPR model assumes electron pairs repel each other, determining the molecular shape by the number of electron pairs around the central atom and considers only electron-pair repulsions to predict molecular structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) model is a tool used in chemistry to predict the geometry of molecules based on the repulsion between electron pairs. Some assumptions of the VSEPR model include:
The VSEPR model operates under the principle that electron pairs will adopt a geometry that reduces the electrostatic repulsion between them. Despite its simplicity, the VSEPR model is quite powerful in predicting the three-dimensional structure of a wide range of compounds, including both nonmetallic molecules and polyatomic ions with a central metal atom. However, it does not account for the nuances of orbital interactions, which can also influence molecular shapes.