Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Hybridization
Hybridization is the concept of mixing atomic orbitals to form new hybrid orbitals suitable for pairing electrons to form chemical bonds. In water (H2O), the oxygen atom undergoes sp3 hybridization, which involves the mixing of one s orbital and three p orbitals, resulting in four equivalent sp3 hybrid orbitals. This hybridization explains the tetrahedral arrangement of electron pairs around the oxygen atom.
Recommended video:
Using bond sites to predict hybridization
Molecular Geometry
Molecular geometry refers to the three-dimensional arrangement of atoms within a molecule. In water, the geometry is bent or V-shaped due to the two lone pairs on the oxygen atom, which repel the hydrogen atoms, resulting in a bond angle of 104.5°. This angle is less than the ideal tetrahedral angle of 109.5° due to the greater repulsion exerted by lone pairs compared to bonding pairs.
Recommended video:
Molecular Geometry Explained.
VSEPR Theory
Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion (VSEPR) theory is used to predict the shape of molecules based on electron pair repulsions. According to VSEPR theory, electron pairs around a central atom will arrange themselves to minimize repulsion. In H2O, the two lone pairs on oxygen push the hydrogen atoms closer together, resulting in a bond angle of 104.5°, which is characteristic of a bent molecular shape.
Recommended video: