---
title: "A student uses molecular-modeling software to compare the arrangements of electron domains around the central atoms in three molecules.  | Molecule | Bonding domains | Lone-pair domains | |—|—:|—:| | \\(\\text{CH}_4\\) | 4 | 0 | | \\(\\text{NH}_3\\) | 3 | 1 | | \\(\\text{H}_2\\text{O}\\) | 2 | 2 |  Which choice correctly ranks the average bond angles from greatest to least and explains the ranking?"
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url: "https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119287/"
date_modified: "2026-08-19T12:39:40+00:00"
---

# A student uses molecular-modeling software to compare the arrangements of electron domains around the central atoms in three molecules.

| Molecule | Bonding domains | Lone-pair domains |
|—|—:|—:|
| \(\text{CH}_4\) | 4 | 0 |
| \(\text{NH}_3\) | 3 | 1 |
| \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) | 2 | 2 |

Which choice correctly ranks the average bond angles from greatest to least and explains the ranking?

A student uses molecular-modeling software to compare the arrangements of electron domains around the central atoms in three molecules.

| Molecule | Bonding domains | Lone-pair domains |
|---|---:|---:|
| \(\text{CH}_4\) | 4 | 0 |
| \(\text{NH}_3\) | 3 | 1 |
| \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) | 2 | 2 |

Which choice correctly ranks the average bond angles from greatest to least and explains the ranking?

- **A.** \(\text{CH}_4 > \text{NH}_3 > \text{H}_2\text{O}\), because bonding domains occupy more space than lone-pair domains and therefore exert stronger repulsions.
- **B.** \(\text{CH}_4 > \text{NH}_3 > \text{H}_2\text{O}\), because repulsions involving lone-pair domains are stronger than bonding-domain–bonding-domain repulsions and compress the bond angles.
- **C.** \(\text{H}_2\text{O} > \text{NH}_3 > \text{CH}_4\), because repulsions involving lone-pair domains are stronger and therefore increase the angles between the bonding domains.
- **D.** \(\text{NH}_3 > \text{CH}_4 > \text{H}_2\text{O}\), because the three bonding domains in \(\text{NH}_3\) can spread farther apart than the four bonding domains in \(\text{CH}_4\).

*The answer key and step-by-step explanation are available to logged-in users at https://nerd-notes.com/ubq/119287/*