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Drawing a Lewis diagram will help determine the electron pair geometry and molecular shape
of CH2O. Refer to the periodic table of elements to find the number of valence electrons in
each atom. This molecule has a total of 12 valence electrons: four electrons from carbon,
one electron from each hydrogen atom, and six electrons from oxygen. After drawing the
Lewis diagram, count the number of valence electrons in the molecule and compare that
value to the calculated number of valence electrons to confirm the correct diagram was
drawn. Seeing that this molecule has three electron groups around the central atom and
there are no lone pairs on the central atom, the electron pair geometry and molecular shape
is trigonal planar. The bond angle
for
this molecule is 120 degree.