Final answer:
The molecular shape of SiH₄ is tetrahedral, determined by sp³ hybridization of the silicon atom, forming four equivalent bonds with hydrogen atoms and no lone pairs on silicon according to VSEPR theory.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student has asked for the determination of the molecular shape of the molecule SiH₄ using a Lewis Dot structure and a molecular geometry chart. Silicon (Si) has the electron configuration 1s²2s²2p⁶3s²3p², which means it has four valence electrons. When bonding with four hydrogen atoms (H), the silicon atom uses sp³ hybridization to form four equivalent, single bonds with hydrogen. Each hydrogen contributes one electron, and thus, all of the silicon's valence electrons are involved in bonding, with no lone pairs remaining on the silicon.
According to the VSEPR (Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion) theory, a molecule with four bonding pairs and no lone pairs will adopt a tetrahedral geometry, to minimize electron pair repulsion. Therefore, the molecule SiH₄ is predicted to have a tetrahedral shape.