Home › CBSE Class 11 (Science) › Chemistry › Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure › Why is the H–O–H angle in water 104.5° and not 1…
Why is the H–O–H angle in water 104.5° and not 109.5°?
AHydrogen atoms repel strongly
BTwo lone pairs squeeze the bonds closer
COxygen uses sp2 hybrid orbitals
DOxygen has only two valence electrons
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Two lone pairs squeeze the bonds closer
The two lone pairs sit closer to the oxygen nucleus and repel each other more than bond pairs do, pushing the O–H bonds together.
Related questions
Which compound shows intramolecular hydrogen bonding?Which set of atoms can form hydrogen bonds with hydrogen?A substance with all electrons paired in molecular orbitals isWhich of these diatomic molecules is paramagnetic?Six atomic orbitals combine. How many molecular orbitals form?An antibonding molecular orbital has a nodal planeA bonding molecular orbital has energy that is ___ the combining atomic orbitals.Ethene contains how many sigma bonds in total?