is the angle between the two hydrogen atoms in H2O 104.5 rather than 90 deg

Subject: is the angle between the two hydrogen atoms in H2O 104.5 rather than 90 deg

Date: Thu Jul 3 02:53:20 2003
Posted by Christine
Grade level: 10-12 School: No school entered.
City: Pennant Hills State/Province: NSW Country: Australia
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 1057218800.Ch

Message:


G'day! I am a Yr 11 student studying shapes of simple molecules. I am having 
difficulty understanding why the angle between the two hydrogen atoms in the 
water molecule is 104.5 rather than 90 degrees. Why do the bonding electrons 
appear to repel each other more than the non-bonding electrons? Or is this 
repulsion due to the slightly positive charge on the hydrogen atoms? Your help 
would be greatly appreaciated.

Re: is the angle between the two hydrogen atoms in H2O 104.5 rather than 90 deg

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