Why h2o is bent

Because of the higher electronegativity of the oxygen atom, the bonds are polar covalent polar bonds. The oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons of the covalent bonds to a significantly greater extent than the hydrogen atoms. The molecule adopts a bent structure because of the two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom. The figure below illustrates the net polarity of the water molecule. Shell two is not completely filled.

Oxygen has 6 valence electrons. The other 4 valence electrons do not bond to hydrogen. They are unbonded. Quantum mechanics dictates they associate in pairs. All oxygen atoms have an octet of electrons. Nitrogen atom does not have an octet because the whole molecule is short an electron. This electron deficient feature of the molecule make is very reactive because it will try to react with some other molecule to complete the octet.

Elmhurst College. Lewis Diagrams. Trigonal Planar. Trigonal Pyrimid. Chemistry Department. Virtual ChemBook. Close Privacy Overview This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website.

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