In a water molecule, two hydrogen atoms bind to one oxygen atom. How many lone pairs of electrons will be shown around each hydrogen atom in the Lewis structure of water?
zero
one
two
four

Respuesta :

TLDR: zero.

Based on the number of valence electrons each element has, there will be 8 electrons that need placement in the diagram. Two pairs (4 electrons) are lost to the two hydrogens to form bonds with the oxygen, so the other two pairs are left as lone pairs attached to the oxygen.

You will have two lone pairs on the oxygen in the Lewis diagram BUT the question asks for how many lone pairs would be present along the hydrogen atom.

There will be no pairs of electrons along the hydrogen atoms, because the valence shell for the hydrogen atom is satisfied with the one atomic bond established with the oxygen.

The answer to this question is actually zero.