Octahedral vs Tetrahedral Geometry

Octahedral and tetrahedral geometries refer to the shapes formed by atoms around a central atom in a molecule. In an octahedral shape, six atoms are positioned at the corners of an octahedron, resembling two pyramids base-to-base, with 90° angles between them. This shape occurs when the central atom is surrounded by six bonded atoms or groups. In a tetrahedral shape, four atoms are positioned as the corners of a tetrahedron, with bond angles of about 109.5°. This arrangement occurs when the central atom is bonded to four other atoms, creating a more open, three-sided pyramid shape.