Multiple Choice
In the Lewis dot structure for HCl, which atom has lone pairs of electrons?
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11. Bonding & Molecular Structure
Lewis Dot Structures: Neutral Compounds
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In a water molecule (H_2O), what is the arrangement of all electron pairs (bonding and lone pairs) around the central oxygen atom?
A
Linear
B
Bent
C
Tetrahedral
D
Trigonal planar
Verified step by step guidance1
Identify the central atom in the water molecule, which is oxygen (O).
Determine the number of valence electrons around the oxygen atom. Oxygen has 6 valence electrons.
Count the bonding pairs: oxygen forms two single bonds with two hydrogen atoms, so there are 2 bonding pairs.
Count the lone pairs: subtract the bonding electrons (2 bonds × 2 electrons each = 4 electrons) from the total valence electrons (6), leaving 2 electrons or 1 lone pair. Actually, oxygen has 2 lone pairs, so total electron pairs are 4 (2 bonding + 2 lone pairs).
Use the VSEPR theory to predict the arrangement of electron pairs around oxygen. Four electron pairs arrange themselves in a tetrahedral geometry to minimize repulsion, even though the molecular shape (based on atoms only) is bent.
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