Bond Angles for H2O (Ideal and Actual)

When we predict the ideal bond able for H2O (Water) we see that it has a bent molecular geometry and expect the bond angle to be 109.5 degrees.  The exact bond angle for water is 104.45 degrees.

The difference between the ideal and exact bond angles is because of the two lone pairs on the central Oxygen atom.  The ideal bond able treats the lone pairs and the Hydrogen atoms as if they the same electrostatic repulsion. This results in and angle of 109.5.  

Lone pairs are more repulsive than Hydrogen atoms and they push the Hydrogen atoms away, forcing them closer together. This reduces the bond angle from the ideal 109.5 to the actual angle of 104.5 degrees.

- For a video using the AXN Method to predict bond angles see:  H2O Molecular Geometry / Shape and Bo...

- Using steric number (electron groups) to find bond angle see:   Water Molecular Geometry and Bond Angles

- Lewis Structure for Water: Water Lewis Structure - How to Draw t...

Visualization App: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/m...

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