JEE Main · 2021 · Shift-IeasyBOND-082

Given below are two statements: Assertion A: The H–O–H bond angle in water molecule is 104.5°. Reason R: The lone…

Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

Given below are two statements:

Assertion A: The H–O–H bond angle in water molecule is 104.5°.

Reason R: The lone pair–lone pair repulsion of electrons is higher than the bond pair–bond pair repulsion.

Choose the correct answer:

Options
  1. a

    A is false but R is true

  2. b

    Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A

  3. c

    A is true but R is false

  4. d

    Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Correct Answerd

Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A

Detailed Solution

🧠 VSEPR predicts that lone pair–lone pair (LP–LP) repulsion > lone pair–bond pair (LP–BP) repulsion > bond pair–bond pair (BP–BP) repulsion. This hierarchy compresses bond angles whenever lone pairs are present.

Assertion A: H–O–H bond angle = 104.5° → True. (Tetrahedral ideal = 109.5°; 2 lone pairs on O compress the H–O–H angle to 104.5°.)

Reason R: LP–LP repulsion > BP–BP repulsion → True.

Is R the correct explanation of A? Yes. The 2 lone pairs on oxygen push the O–H bonding pairs closer together via stronger repulsion, reducing the H–O–H angle from the ideal 109.5° to 104.5°. R correctly and directly explains why A is true.

Answer: (d) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A\boxed{\text{Answer: (d) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A}}

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Given below are two statements: Assertion A: The H–O–H bond angle in water molecule is 104.5°.… (JEE Main 2021) | Canvas Classes