Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Octahedral is a molecular geometry where a central atom is surrounded by six atoms or ligands placed at the vertices of an octahedron. This arrangement results in 90° bond angles between adjacent atoms.
5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test
The ideal bond angle in an octahedral molecule is 90 degrees.
Examples of octahedral molecules include SF6 and [Co(NH3)6]3+.
In an octahedral geometry, all positions are equivalent, meaning that any ligand can be swapped with another without changing the shape.
Transition metals often form octahedral complexes due to their ability to accommodate multiple ligands.
Octahedral shapes are associated with sp3d2 hybridization.
Review Questions
Related terms
Tetrahedral: A molecular geometry where a central atom is surrounded by four atoms or ligands placed at the vertices of a tetrahedron, resulting in bond angles of approximately 109.5 degrees.
Square Planar: A molecular geometry where a central atom is surrounded by four atoms or ligands positioned at the corners of a square on the same plane, typically with bond angles of 90 degrees.
\text{The concept explaining how atomic orbitals mix to form new hybrid orbitals suitable for pairing electrons to form chemical bonds in specific geometries, such as sp^3 for tetrahedral and sp^3d^2 for octahedral.}