Concept:The structure of solid ice is governed by a highly ordered network of hydrogen bonds.
Formula:Not applicable for structural molecular geometry.
Solution:- In a water molecule (\( \text{H}_2\text{O} \)), the central Oxygen atom is covalently bonded to two Hydrogen atoms.
- In the crystal lattice of ice, the two lone pairs on the Oxygen atom accept hydrogen bonds from two additional Hydrogen atoms belonging to neighboring water molecules.
- Therefore, each Oxygen atom is tetrahedrally surrounded by exactly Four H-atoms.
Why other options are incorrect:Choosing Two H-atoms ignores the intermolecular hydrogen bonds. Choosing One or Three fails to account for the complete tetrahedral geometry of the \( \text{sp}^3 \) hybridized oxygen.
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