Molecular architecture

Structure decides properties. From giant lattices and diamond versus graphite to molecular shapes, polarity and intermolecular forces, up to the molecules that run life.

The same atoms can build wildly different materials depending on how they are arranged. This track shows how structure decides properties, from giant ionic lattices to covalent networks where identical carbon atoms form either diamond or graphite.

It then covers the 3D shapes of molecules with VSEPR, why some molecules are polar, the weak intermolecular forces that set boiling points, and how all of it builds the large molecules of life such as DNA and proteins.

What you will learn:

  • Ionic lattices and covalent networks (diamond and graphite)
  • Molecular shapes with VSEPR, and bond angles
  • Polarity and intermolecular forces
  • What a molecule is, up to DNA and proteins

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Frequently asked questions

What is VSEPR theory?
VSEPR (valence-shell electron-pair repulsion) predicts a molecule's 3D shape by assuming electron pairs around a central atom spread as far apart as possible, giving shapes such as linear, bent, pyramidal and tetrahedral.
Why are diamond and graphite so different if both are carbon?
They are different structural forms (allotropes) of carbon. Diamond bonds each carbon to four others in a rigid 3D network, making it hard, while graphite bonds each to three in sliding sheets, making it soft and conductive.