MadSci Network: Chemistry
Query:

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

Date: Thu Jul 3 16:03:39 2003
Posted By: Dan Berger, Faculty Chemistry/Science, Bluffton College
Area of science: Chemistry
ID: 1057218800.Ch
Message:

Actually, it's the hydrogens getting in each other's way. You can only force the two hydrogen atoms in water so close together before they start pushing back. The same goes for hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

But the bond lengths in water are much shorter than in hydrogen sulfide. This means that the bond angle in water must be larger. Try it yourself: draw two isosceles triangles with the same length base, one in which the two equal sides are short and one in which they are long. The angle between the two equal sides will be different!

Dan Berger
MadSci Admin






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