Structure of H2O

[Andrew Jang 4D]

I remember in lecture Dr. Lavelle said lone pairs in molecules are usually opposite each other due to the high repulsion. Why is this not the case for water?

[Sydney Pell 2E]

The lone pairs in H2O are not opposite each other because H2O has four areas of electron density and therefore is in tetrahedral electron geometry. It would not matter which two pairs of electrons are the lone pairs because no matter what the molecular geometry will be bent.

[Lauren Sanchez 3D]

So if there are only two areas of electron density, that is when they are opposite of each other due to the strong repulsion?

[Nare Arakelian Dis 3E]

So if there are only two areas of electron density, that is when they are opposite of each other due to the strong repulsion?

Yes, I believe so because this minimizes the repulsions by putting the lone pairs farthest away from each other