In the context of chemical bonding and molecular geometry according to Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion theory, what is the shape of a water molecule?

💡 Solution & Explanation

A water molecule has a central oxygen atom bonded to two hydrogen atoms along with two lone pairs of electrons in its valence shell, making a total of four electron pairs arranged approximately in a tetrahedral electron geometry. Due to strong lone pair-lone pair and lone pair-bond pair repulsions, the bond angle is compressed to approximately 104.5 degrees, giving the molecule a bent or V-shaped geometry. Although the electron arrangement is tetrahedral, molecular shape nomenclature considers only the positions of bonded atoms. Water possesses a significant permanent dipole moment due to this angular asymmetry.