Question detail
What effect do lone pairs have on bond angles in a molecule?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Bonding
Question
- A. They increase bond angles.
- B. They decrease bond angles.
- C. They have no effect on bond angles.
- D. They create additional bonds.
Answer
They decrease bond angles.
Explanation
The evidence shows that lone pairs occupy more space than bonding pairs due to their repulsive nature. This indicates that the presence of lone pairs will push the bonding pairs closer together, thereby decreasing the bond angles. The implication is that molecular geometry is altered by the presence of lone pairs, leading to the conclusion that lone pairs decrease bond angles in a molecule.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Bond Angles
Students often confuse the bond angles in simple molecular shapes, thinking they are all the same regardless of the presence of lone pairs.
To fix this, students should remember that lone pairs repel more than bonding pairs, which can alter the bond angles in a molecule. For example, in water (H₂O), the bond angle is approximately 104.5° due to the two lone pairs on the oxygen atom.
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