How to figure out the shape of molecules using the VESPR theory.

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VALENCE SHELL ELECTRON PAIR REPULSION (VSEPR) THEORY: 
The theory known as VSEPR theory , is primarily based on the fact that in a polyatomic 
molecule, the direction of bonds around the central atom depends upon the total number of 
electron pairs (bonding as well as non bonding )in its valence shell.   Both bonding and nonbonding 
electron pairs  arrange themselves in such a way that there is a minimum repulsion among  them so 
that the molecule has minimum energy (i.e. ,maximum stability). 
The following rules have been proposed to figure out shape of molecules using VSEPR 
theory. 
Rule 1.  If the central atom of a molecule is surrounded only by bonding  electron pairs (bp’s) 
and not by non bonding electron pairs, called lone pairs (lp’s) the geometry of the molecule will be 
regular, i.e.  it will be linear , triangular planar, regular tetrahedral, trigonal bipyramidal  and regular 
octahedral for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 bonding electron pairs.

How to figure out the shape of molecules using the VESPR theory.

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