JEE Main Chemistry question

The H–O–H bond angle in water (104.5°, rather than the ideal tetrahedral 109.5°) is best explained with the help of

(A)Valence shell electron pair repulsion (VSEPR) theoryCorrect
(B)Molecular orbital theory
(C)Presence of hydrogen bond
(D)Electronegativity difference between hydrogen and oxygen atoms

Answer: (A)

Solution

VSEPR theory explains that lone pair–lone pair repulsion is stronger than lone pair–bond pair repulsion, which in turn is stronger than bond pair–bond pair repulsion. In

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Question ID VK-156008