Final answer:
VSEPR theory predicts the molecular structure and bond angles using Lewis structures, arranging electron pairs to minimize repulsion, which determines the molecule's shape.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory uses Lewis dot structures to predict the molecular structure and approximate bond angles around a central atom in a molecule. Through the Lewis dot structures, we can identify the number of bonding pairs and lone pairs of electrons, yet this approach does not tell us about the spatial arrangement of these molecule-building blocks. The VSEPR model fills this gap by assuming that electron pairs within the valence shell will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion, hence determining the molecule's shape.
The theory works on the principle of maximizing the distance between areas of high electron density, which include both bonding and lone pairs of electrons. By considering these electron pairs, VSEPR theory can reliably predict the geometric layout of molecules, knowing that the electrons will adopt a configuration that reduces electrostatic repulsion. Nonetheless, it's important to remember that VSEPR is a simplification and does not provide details on bond lengths or account for multiple bonds.
VSEPR theory allows for the prediction of molecular geometries using the AXmEn notation, where 'A' stands for the central atom, 'X' a bonded atom, 'E' a nonbonding valence electron group, and 'm' and 'n' are integers representing the number of bonding and nonbinding pairs respectively.