Given below are two statements: Statement I: $\mathrm{SO}_{2}$ and $\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ both possess V-shaped structure. Statement II: The bond angle of $\mathrm{SO}_{2}$ is less than that of $\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}$. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

(A) Both Statement I and Statement II are correct

(C) Both Statement I and Statement II are incorrect

(D) Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct

JEE Main · 2023 · 13 Apr 2023 · Shift 2 · Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure

Given below are two statements:

Statement I:

SO_{2}

and

H_{2} O

both possess V-shaped structure.
Statement II: The bond angle of

SO_{2}

is less than that of

H_{2} O

.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Answer: (B)

Both

SO X_{2}

and

H X_{2} O

have a central atom carrying lone pairs, so each takes up a bent, V-shaped geometry, which makes Statement I correct. In

SO X_{2}

the sulfur is

s p^{2}

hybridised with a single lone pair and the bond angle is close to

11 9^{\circ}

, whereas in

H X_{2} O

the oxygen is

s p^{3}

hybridised with two lone pairs whose stronger repulsion compresses the angle to about

104. 5^{\circ}

. The bond angle of

SO X_{2}

is thus larger, not smaller, than that of

H X_{2} O

, so Statement II is incorrect. Hence Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect.

JEE Main · 2023 · 13 Apr 2023 · Shift 2 · Single correct option