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What is the shape of a water molecule? - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question (c) - 2015
Question (c)
What is the shape of a water molecule?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:What is the shape of a water molecule? - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question (c) - 2015
Step 1
What is the shape of a water molecule?
Answer
The shape of a water molecule (H₂O) is commonly described as 'V-shaped' or 'bent'. This occurs because the molecule has a tetrahedral electron geometry due to the two bonding pairs of electrons and two lone pairs of electrons around the central oxygen atom.
In a water molecule, the two hydrogen atoms are bonded to the oxygen atom, creating a bond angle of approximately 104.5 degrees. The lone pairs of electrons occupy more space than the bonding pairs, which contributes to the bent shape.
A diagram illustrating the bent shape can be represented as follows:
H
\
O
/ \
H
This diagram shows how the hydrogen atoms are positioned at an angle to each other due to the repulsion from the lone pairs of electrons.