Question

What causes water molecules to have a bent shaped according to the VSEPR theory?

Answer 1

Hint : First of all as, we all know that water$\left( {{H_2}O} \right)$ is a universal solvent. It has a bent shaped structure according to VSEPR theory. The valence of the oxygen$\left( O \right)$ atom is $2$ as it has $6$ electrons in its outermost shell. So, that’s why it makes two bonds with hydrogen thus forming water$\left( {{H_2}O} \right)$ and mainly double bond with other elements.

Complete Step By Step Answer:
As after reading the question we come to know that water has a bent shaped like structure. The reason for this is that it has six electrons in its outermost shell and two out of these six electrons participated in bond formation with one electron of each hydrogen atom. Now, the remaining four electrons gets paired with other electron thus forming two lone pairs. These two lone pairs of electrons are on the same side of the molecule. They start repelling each other as the lone pair-lone pair repulsion is higher than the other lone pair-bond pair and bond pair-bond pair repulsion resulting in the downward or upward pushing of hydrogen and oxygen bond making it bent shaped.

Note :
The full form of VSEPR theory is valence shell electron repulsion theory. This theory is very much successful in predicting the shape and geometry of the molecules with the help of the number of electron pair surrounding the central atom. This theory was developed by Ronald Gillespie and Ronald Sidney. These two were the main developers of this theory.