JEE Main Chemistry question

Which structure can be explained by taking the ground-state electron configuration of the central atom (without invoking orbital promotion/excitation)?

(A)BeH₂
(B)BF₃
(C)CH₄
(D)H₂OCorrect

Answer: (D)

Solution

Oxygen's ground-state configuration (2s² 2p⁴) already has two unpaired electrons (in two different p orbitals), exactly matching the two bonds needed in H₂O — no promotion to an excited state

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Question ID VK-139701