Question Detail

CHM 102 Practice Questions Objective Question
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Question

Explain why the water molecule has a bent shape and a bond angle less than 109.5°.
Options
A The electron repulsion between the two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen of water causes the O–H bonds to squeeze close together.
Correct Answer
B The electron repulsion between the two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen of water causes the O–H bonds to repel each other.
C The electron repulsion between the two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen of water causes the O–H bonds to become linear.
D The electron repulsion between the two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen of water causes the O–H bonds to have a bond angle of 180°.
Correct Answer

Option A is the correct answer.

Detailed Explanation

Water has a bent shape with a bond angle of approximately 104.5° (less than 109.5°) because the two lone pairs on oxygen repel each other and the bonding pairs, compressing the O-H bonds closer together.

Hint

How do lone pairs affect bond angles in water?

Question Info

Course: CHM 102
Topic: Practice Questions
Type: Objective
Difficulty: Not specified
Question 1294 of 1999
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