Answer: Water has two lone pairs vs one in NH3; greater lone pair repulsion compresses the angle more in water.
- A Water has two lone pairs vs one in NH3; greater lone pair repulsion compresses the angle more in water
- B Nitrogen in NH3 carries a noticeably larger atomic radius than oxygen does in water in general practice
- C Water's O-H bonds are generally shorter in length than NH3's N-H bonds as frequently described in most textbook accounts
- D Water possesses a greater overall molecular polarity than ammonia does during normal conditions as generally observed
Correct answer: A. Water has two lone pairs vs one in NH3; greater lone pair repulsion compresses the angle more in water
Explanation: Two lone pairs in H2O cause greater repulsion than one lone pair in NH3, reducing the bond angle further from tetrahedral.
VSEPR theory predicts molecular shape from the number of bonding and lone electron pairs around the central atom.
Concept context
Understand how atoms join to form molecules. Covers ionic and covalent bonding, VSEPR theory, hybridization (sp, sp², sp³), molecular orbital theory, bond polarity, and intermolecular forces like hydrogen bonding.
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