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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_
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