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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: quantum_toothpaste on June 19, 2010, 10:23:34 AM

Title: Why is a water molcule in a V shape?
Post by: quantum_toothpaste on June 19, 2010, 10:23:34 AM

Water molecules make a V shape rather than a straight line, why is that?

The angle is supposed to be 104.45 degrees.. how is that calculated?

Title: Re: Why is a water molcule in a V shape?
Post by: Jorriss on June 19, 2010, 12:14:29 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSEPR_theory read on this.

Summary version: electron pairs influence the geometry.

Title: Re: Why is a water molcule in a V shape?
Post by: uvcyclotron on June 27, 2010, 02:18:19 AM

Quote from: Jorriss on June 19, 2010, 12:14:29 PM

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VSEPR_theory read on this.

Summary version: electron pairs influence the geometry.

Joriss is correct, you might be knowing that in a water molecule, the central O atom is in sp³ hybridization, where there are 2 bond-pair electrons, and 2 lone pair e^-, these arrange in a tetrahedral geometry in 3-D space, which results in the H--O--H bond appearing like a V.