What is the shape of a molecule?
Well, a molecule is mostly empty space.
Almost all of its mass is concentrated
in the extremely dense nuclei of its atoms.
And its electrons,
which determine how the atoms
are bonded to each other,
are more like clouds of negative charge
than individual, discrete particles.
So, a molecule doesn't have a shape
in the same way that, for example,
a statue has a shape.
But for every molecule,
there's at least one way
to arrange the nuclei and electrons
so as to maximize the attraction
of opposite charges
and minimize the repulsion
of like charges.
Now, let's assume that the only electrons
that matter to a molecule's shape
are the outermost ones from each participating atom.
And let's also assume
that the electron clouds in between atoms,
in other words, a molecule's bonds,
are shaped kind of like sausages.
Remember that nuclei are positively charged
and electrons are negatively charged,
and if all of the molecule's nuclei
were bunched up together
or if all of its electrons were bunched up together,
they would just repel each other and fly apart,
and that doesn't help anyone.