What is the bond angle in water (H2O) due to the presence of lone pairs on oxyge

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Question: What is the bond angle in water (H2O) due to the presence of lone pairs on oxygen? (2019)

Options:

Correct Answer: 104.5°

Exam Year: 2019

Solution:

The bond angle in water is approximately 104.5° due to the repulsion between the lone pairs on the oxygen atom.

What is the bond angle in water (H2O) due to the presence of lone pairs on oxygen? (2019)

What is the bond angle in water (H2O) due to the presence of lone pairs on oxygen? (2019)

Step 1: Understand that water (H2O) has one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms.
Step 2: Know that the oxygen atom has two lone pairs of electrons that are not involved in bonding.
Step 3: Recognize that these lone pairs repel the hydrogen atoms, affecting the shape of the molecule.
Step 4: Learn that the ideal bond angle for a molecule with no lone pairs is 109.5° (tetrahedral shape).
Step 5: Realize that the presence of lone pairs pushes the hydrogen atoms closer together, reducing the bond angle.
Step 6: Conclude that the bond angle in water is approximately 104.5° due to the repulsion from the lone pairs.

Molecular Geometry – Understanding the shape of molecules based on VSEPR theory, which considers lone pairs and bond pairs.
Bond Angles – Knowledge of how lone pairs affect the angles between bonded atoms in a molecule.