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What bond angle is most closely associated with a tetrahedral distribution of electron density?

a. 90°
b. 109.5°
c. 120°
d. 180°

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The bond angle associated with a tetrahedral distribution of electron density is 109.5°, although it can be slightly less in molecules with lone pair-bonding pair repulsions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The bond angle most closely associated with a tetrahedral distribution of electron density is 109.5°. This is the ideal angle in a perfect tetrahedral geometry where there are four regions of electron density, such as with a molecule like methane (CH4). However, when other factors such as lone pair - bonding pair (LP-BP) repulsions are considered, the bond angle may be slightly less. For example, in a water molecule with two lone pairs and two bonding pairs, the H-O-H bond angles are about 104.5° rather than the tetrahedral 109.5° due to these repulsions.

User Ibrar Ahmed
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