Question

Lone pair-lone pair repulsions are greater than bond pair-bond pair repulsions because:

• A. lone pairs are localised to a single atom
• B. bond pairs are localised to a single atom
• C. lone pairs are delocalised between the two atoms
• D. none of the above

Answer 1

The correct option is A lone pairs are localised to a single atom

Since lone pairs are localised to an atom, they are close to each other and hence have more repulsions between them. The bond pairs are delocalised between the atoms and hence they are relatively far away and have less repulsions in comparison to the lone pairs.