Question

What is the structure of ${{H}_{2}}O$ ?

• A. Tetrahedral
• B. Pyramidal
• C. Angular
• D. Planar

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Angular

Answer 2

The electron dot-structure of ${{H}_{2}}O$ is $\underset{(lps\,+\,\sigma \,-\,bps\,=\,2\,+\,2\,=\,4)}{\mathop{H--\underset{.\,\,.}{\overset{.\,\,.}{\mathop{O}}}\,--H}}\,$ Hence, oxygen atom undergoes $s{{p}^{3}}\text{-}$ hybridisation. It should be tetrahedral, but due to presence of 2 lone-pairs of electron, it is angular with H?O?H, bond angle $=104.5{}^\circ .$