How will you account for the $104.5^{\circ}$ bond angle in water?

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(N/A) In water $(H_2O)$,the oxygen atom undergoes $sp^3$ hybridization,which theoretically predicts a tetrahedral geometry with a bond angle of $109^{\circ} 28^{\prime}$.
However,the oxygen atom in water is bonded to two hydrogen atoms and also possesses two lone pairs of electrons.
According to the $VSEPR$ theory,the repulsion between lone pair-lone pair $(lp-lp)$ is stronger than the repulsion between lone pair-bond pair $(lp-bp)$,which in turn is stronger than bond pair-bond pair $(bp-bp)$ repulsion.
Due to the strong repulsion exerted by the two lone pairs on the two $O-H$ bond pairs,the bond angle is compressed from the ideal tetrahedral angle of $109^{\circ} 28^{\prime}$ to $104.5^{\circ}$.

Explore More

Similar Questions

According to the $VSEPR$ theory,what is the shape of the water molecule $(H_2O)$?

Predict the correct order of repulsion among the following:

$A$ pair of molecules with see-saw shape and linear shape,respectively,is

Which of the following shapes is not possible for any possible value of $n$ in the $XeF_n$ molecule?

Difficult
View Solution

Out of $H_2O$ and $H_2S$,which one has a higher bond angle and why?

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo