Question

Difference between shape and geometry in chemistry chemical bonding

Answer 1

Geometry of a molecule is the arrangement of lone pair + bond pair around the central atom and corresponds to the coordination number of the molecule while shape is the molecule structure excluding the lone pair on the central atom. Shape does not count lone pair.

For example : Methane CH4 , Ammonia NH3 and H2O all have CN=4 and have tetrahedral geometry but all of them have different shapes. Since there is no lone pair on carbon in methane it's geometry and shape is equivalent but NH3 has pyramidal shape and Water molecule has Bent or V shape.

Answer 2

geometry is the shape of the molecule including lone pair and electron pair.

and shape is the shape of the molecule without considering lone pairs.

if you struggle remembering these two like me

then i have a trick for you which I just made while writing this answer :

LG (you know the famous electronic company )

so ,

LG - lone pair in geometry :)

L : lone pair

G : geometry

hope it helped...