In an ice crystal, each water molecule is hydrogen bonded to neighbouring molecules.

Question

In an ice crystal, each water molecule is hydrogen bonded to  neighbouring molecules.

Canvas Classes · Accepted Answer

Step 1 — Structure of ice:
In ice, water molecules form a tetrahedral network:
- Each water molecule has 2 O–H bonds (H-bond donors)
- Each water molecule has 2 lone pairs on O (H-bond acceptors)

Step 2 — Number of H-bonds per molecule:
- 2 H-bonds as donor (through 2 O–H bonds)
- 2 H-bonds as acceptor (through 2 lone pairs)
- Total = 4 hydrogen bonds per water molecule

Step 3: Each water molecule is H-bonded to 4 neighbouring molecules in the tetrahedral ice lattice.

Answer: 4

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