alleryStart learning →An oxygen atom in a water molecule keeps two electron pairs entirely to itself. What are these pairs called?
AA bond pair
BA free pair
CA lone pair
DA spare pair
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. A lone pair
1. Oxygen forms one bond with each hydrogen atom using its two unpaired electrons.
2. The remaining two pairs are not shared with any other atom.
3. An unshared electron pair is called a lone pair, and it stays on the atom it belongs to.
4. A bonding pair is shared between two atoms, which is exactly what these pairs are not.
_Source: Siyavula Physical Sciences Grade 11 (Everything Science, CC BY 4.0), Chapter 3: Atomic combinations_
Keep practising Atomic combinations
Browse all Atomic combinations questions for UCE (O-Level), or explore more Chemistry topics.
Related questions
A molecule has one end with a slightly positive charge and the other end with a slightly nBond energy is the amount of energy needed to do what?According to VSEPR theory, how do the valence electron pairs around a central atom arrangeWhat does the electronegativity of an element measure?In a dative covalent bond, where do the two shared electrons come from?What name is given to the electrons in the outermost energy level of an atom?How is a covalent bond between two atoms formed?