Multiple choice

Water molecules consist of two covalent bonds between 1 oxygen atom and 2 hydrogen atoms, i.e. H-O-H. Therefore, according to symmetry principles, it should be a linear structure but instead it has

  1. elongated linear structure that results into the hydrogen bonding

  2. bent structure owing to lone pairs on oxygen

  3. curved V-shaped structure with lone pairs on both sides of oxygen

  4. flexible structure that can attain different shapes under different circumstances
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The water molecule should be symmetrical and therefore, linear. But the repulsion between the two lone pairs of oxygen and further the lone pair-bond pair repulsion cause it to distort to a bent-shaped structure with lone pairs being on one side and bond pairs on the other.

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