Answer: F is more electronegative than H; bond pair electrons in O-F are pulled away from O more, reducing repulsion and decreasing angle.
- A F is more electronegative than H; bond pair electrons in O-F are pulled away from O more, reducing repulsion and decreasing angle
- B Fluorine is generally claimed to be a much more physically large atom than hydrogen overall as frequently observed in practice
- C The O-F bonds are claimed to be noticeably shorter in length than the O-H bonds found in water in many documented cases according to conventional understanding
- D The oxygen lone pairs are claimed to become physically larger in size once bonded to fluorine instead in routine practice overall
Correct answer: A. F is more electronegative than H; bond pair electrons in O-F are pulled away from O more, reducing repulsion and decreasing angle
Explanation: Electronegative F pulls bonding electrons away from O, reducing electron density on O's side; bond pair repulsion decreases, compressing the F-O-F angle slightly below H-O-H.
Xenon tetrafluoride (XeF4) has six electron domains around xenon — four Xe–F bonds plus two lone pairs. The lone pairs occupy opposite axial positions, leaving the four fluorine atoms in a square-planar shape (Xe–F ≈ 194 pm). Image: ChemSim, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Concept context
Covers the nitrogen family (Group 15), oxygen family (Group 16), halogens (Group 17), and noble gases (Group 18). One of the highest-weightage inorganic chapters in NEET and JEE - includes preparation and properties of HNO₃, H₂SO₄, interhalogens, and xenon compounds.