Im really confused as to how electron pair configuration, VSEPR, and molecular shapes all relate to each other/differ from each other?
-
Electron pair configuration, VSEPR and molecular shapes go hand in hand with one another. Basically, the concepts express the tendency for electrons within molecules to seek out the lowest energy configurations possible - electrons occupy the lowest energy orbitals within an atom's shells (electron pair configuration) and tend to maximize the distance between themselves (VSEPR), giving rise to molecular shapes that minimize the energy of the molecule. If you think of electrons as being tiny magnets, and all of the tiny magnets have the same polarity (all south or all north poles), then the more you try to force them together, the more they try to separate from one another. The same thing happens within molecules. I hope this helps!