JEE Main · 2023 · Shift-IImediumBOND-016

Given below are two statements: Statement I: SO2 and H2O both possess V-shaped structure. Statement II: The bond angle…

Chemical Bonding · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

Given below are two statements:

Statement I: SO2\mathrm{SO_2} and H2O\mathrm{H_2O} both possess V-shaped structure.

Statement II: The bond angle of SO2\mathrm{SO_2} is less than that of H2O\mathrm{H_2O}.

Choose the most appropriate answer:

Options
  1. a

    Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect

  2. b

    Both Statement I and Statement II are correct

  3. c

    Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

  4. d

    Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect

Correct Answerd

Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect

Detailed Solution

🧠 Evaluate each statement independently using VSEPR and known bond angles.

Statement I — shape: \ceSO2\ce{SO2}: S has 2 bonds + 1 lone pair → V-shaped ✓. \ceH2O\ce{H2O}: O has 2 bonds + 2 lone pairs → V-shaped ✓. Both are V-shaped → Statement I is correct.

Statement II — bond angle comparison: \ceSO2\ce{SO2} bond angle ≈ 119°; \ceH2O\ce{H2O} bond angle ≈ 104.5°. Statement II says \ceSO2\ce{SO2} angle is less than \ceH2O\ce{H2O} angle — this is wrong (119°>104.5°119° > 104.5°).

🗺️ Why is \ceSO2\ce{SO2}'s angle larger? In \ceSO2\ce{SO2}, the lone pair on S occupies a more contracted orbital (S is period 3, lone pair less repulsive) and the S=O double-bond character pushes the bonding pairs outward. In \ceH2O\ce{H2O}, two lone pairs exert maximum repulsion on the bond pairs, compressing the H–O–H angle to 104.5°.

Answer: (d) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect\boxed{\text{Answer: (d) Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect}}

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Given below are two statements: Statement I: SO2 and H2O both possess V-shaped structure. Statement… (JEE Main 2023) | Canvas Classes