Explore the geometry of molecules

In this simulation, explore the molecular and the electronic geometry of model or real molecules.

Example: water’s electronic geometry is tetrahedral whereas the molecule is bent.

The electronic geometry of water is tetrahedral. It takes into account the 2 pairs of free electrons not involved in covalent bond.
The water molecule is bent. The molecule geometry looks at the geometry of the covalent bonds only.

Importance of organic compounds

Living things are composed of organic molecules primarily made up of the elements carbon  and hydrogen. Molecules of hydrogen and carbon (referred to as hydrocarbons) have the property of being non–polar. Yet 70- 90% of cells are composed of water (a polar compound). Polar substances mix with other polar substances. Likewise, non-polar substances interact with other non-polar compounds. Polar and non-polar compounds are immiscible (unable to mix).

So how do cells keep from falling apart in a water environment?

The answer is: functional groups!