select the correct answer. why is the bond angle in a water molecule less than the bond angle of methane? a…

select the correct answer. why is the bond angle in a water molecule less than the bond angle of methane? a. the central oxygen atom in water has two lone pairs of electrons, whereas the central carbon atom in methane has no lone pairs. b. the central hydrogen atom in water has one lone pair of electrons, whereas the central carbon atom in methane has two lone pairs. c. the central oxygen atom in water has four lone pairs of electrons, whereas the central carbon atom in methane has only one lone pair. d. the central oxygen atom exerts more repulsive force on surrounding atoms than the central carbon atom in methane does.

select the correct answer. why is the bond angle in a water molecule less than the bond angle of methane? a. the central oxygen atom in water has two lone pairs of electrons, whereas the central carbon atom in methane has no lone pairs. b. the central hydrogen atom in water has one lone pair of electrons, whereas the central carbon atom in methane has two lone pairs. c. the central oxygen atom in water has four lone pairs of electrons, whereas the central carbon atom in methane has only one lone pair. d. the central oxygen atom exerts more repulsive force on surrounding atoms than the central carbon atom in methane does.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

The bond - angle difference is due to the presence of lone - pairs on the central atom. In water, the central oxygen atom has 2 lone - pairs and 2 bonding pairs, while the central carbon atom in methane has 4 bonding pairs and no lone - pairs. Lone - pair - bonding - pair repulsions are stronger than bonding - pair - bonding - pair repulsions, causing the bond angle in water to be smaller.

Answer:

A. The central oxygen atom in water has two lone pairs of electrons, whereas the central carbon atom in methane has no lone pairs.