STEREOCHEMISTRY AND SEVEN COORDINATION

Abstract

A method is described to calculate the equilibrium configuration of any number of identical particles restricted to a spherical surface and interacting with forces derivable from an inter-particle potential of the form r −n . It is shown that distributions of symmetry C 2 are expected for seven particles when n is small. In certain cases, the model can be used to explain the shape of molecules of the type MX m . The importance of directed valence in these molecules is considered and the structure of IF 7 discussed.