Final answer:
Water molecules have a bent molecular geometry due to two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom, causing a distortion from a tetrahedral arrangement to a 104.5° angle. This bent shape makes water a polar molecule, enabling it to form hydrogen bonds and dissolve various substances.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Molecular Geometry of Water
Water is a molecule with a bent shape due to its molecular geometry. The electron groups in water are oriented in a tetrahedral arrangement around the central oxygen atom. However, because water has two lone pairs of electrons and two hydrogen atoms bonded to the oxygen, the repulsion between the lone pairs is greater, distorting the shape from a perfect tetrahedron to a bent geometry. This results in a molecule with a bond angle of approximately 104.5°. The shape of the water molecule is crucial because it leads to unequal distribution of charge, creating a polar molecule with a net dipole pointing towards the more electronegative oxygen atom.
The molecular geometry of water explains its unique properties, such as its ability to act as a universal solvent. The lone pairs on the oxygen atom and the polar nature of the water molecules allow it to form hydrogen bonds with various substances, facilitating dissolution. The bent shape and resultant dipolarity have profound implications in many fields, including biology, chemistry, and environmental science.