Bond Angle Differences

Correct Answer: A. 5 degrees

Methane is the prototypical tetrahedral molecule. The bond angle between the carbon atom and any pair of hydrogen atoms is 109.5 degrees. The molecule behaves according to VSPER (valence shell electron-pair repulsion) theory, which states that atoms surrounding a central atom will tend to move as far away from each other as possible. Four substituents around one carbon atom usually forms a tetrahedral molecule. The four electron pairs surrounding oxygen in water assort themselves in much the same way, but not quite. The two lone pairs actually exert a slightly stronger repulsive force on the hydrogen atoms making the bond angle about 5 degrees more acute.

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