Question

The electronegative oxygen that is central to a water molecule is __________ bound to two hydrogen atoms. These hydrogens are 'bent' to form a 105° angle because _________

Answer 1

• Each molecule or compound is made up of more then one number of elements inside it, as there are different level of electronic configuration and the whole level of properties is much more different for all the elements which are involved in the bond formation. While, the elements are much smaller then any normal being can imagine it is still attributed with certain geometrical properties to the unique compounds that are more vital to the survival of living beings on this planet.
• As, for the H₂O the single oxygen,O₂ atom is bonded with two hydrogen,H atoms. And to study the structure of the H₂O we might require some basic knowledge about the electronic configuration of the different elements, and for that reason we know that hydrogen has single electron in its outer most shell that is used during the bond formation of the elements with the single oxygen,O₂ atom having 8 electrons in its outer most shell. out of the 8 electrons only 4 electrons are there to take part in the formation of bonds of the element with other atoms.
• While, the water molecule experience a different experience when it comes to the distribution of charge all over its structure, making it more polarized in nature. Just because there are two hydrogen,H atoms for the formation of bond with a single oxygen,O₂ atom there are two single bonds formed( which are covalent in nature). Now, there are excess of electrons present on the oxygen molecules that attracts the electron pair formed with the hydrogen to such an extent that the structure of H₂O is seemed to be a "V" shaped as a whole when observed and has the geometric angle of 105 degree in total.

• The presence of lone pair electrons on oxygen or we can say presence of extra pair of electrons which are not involved in the bonding process are held responsible for the "V" shape structure of the water,H₂O molecules and the bond formed are the single covalent bonds between the hydrogen,H and oxygen,O₂ molecule.