Explain the effect of lone pairs on bond angles.

In the subtopic Covalent bonding and molecular shape, this AQA A-Level Chemistry 7405 learning objective focuses on explain the effect of lone pairs on bond angles. It belongs to Bonding, so revision should stay anchored to this exact subtopic rather than drifting into a generic GCSE-level chemistry summary. Approved keywords to use include bond angle, lone pair. Bond angle. means the angle formed between two bonds that originate from the same atom, which can be affected by the presence of lone pairs Avoid the mistake of students often overlook the impact of lone pairs on bond angles, assuming they do not affect molecular geometry; instead, to fix this, remember that lone pairs occupy more space than bonding pairs, causing bond angles to decrease. This is because lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs, leading to a distortion in the molecular shape and ultimately affecting the predicted bond angles For exam answers, when predicting molecular shapes, always consider the presence of lone pairs as they significantly affect bond angles