Known Molecular Structures: Neither Explanation nor Prediction Required!

Abstract

Most modern textbooks of chemistry exhort students to predict and explain molecular structures using Hybrid Atomic Orbitals (HAO) and Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR). This article is directed toward chemistry lecturers and textbook authors to rethink the necessity of teaching these models because prediction and explanation of known molecular structures are not required. We review the important points below: 1) What is a known molecular structure? 2) What is an explanation in chemistry? 3) HAO and VSEPR cannot explain structures. 4) There is no requirement for students to explain known structures. 5) There is no requirement for students to predict known structures. 6) As an improved alternative to HAO and VSEPR, one can teach known molecular structures without prediction or explanation but rather by showing molecules as data.