How many lone pairs of electrons are on the central atom in the water molecule
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To determine the number of lone pairs of electrons on the central atom in the water molecule, we need to know the Lewis structure of water.
Water consists of two hydrogen (H) atoms bonded to a central oxygen (O) atom. The Lewis structure of water is represented as H2O, where the oxygen atom is surrounded by two pairs of electrons and two hydrogen atoms.
To find the number of lone pairs on the central atom, we can count the number of electrons that are not involved in bonding. In the case of water, oxygen has six valence electrons. Each hydrogen atom contributes one electron, so the total number of valence electrons in water is eight.
In the water molecule, two of the valence electrons from oxygen participate in bonding with the hydrogen atoms, forming two covalent bonds. This leaves four valence electrons as lone pairs on the oxygen atom.
Therefore, the central oxygen atom in the water molecule has two lone pairs of electrons.