How many bonds are formed by each oxygen atom in ice ?

Options

A. 4
B. 2
C. 3
D. May be 1 or 2

Answer

To determine how many bonds are formed by each oxygen atom in ice, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Composition of Ice**:
Ice is a solid form of water (H₂O). Each water molecule consists of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms.

2. **Analyzing the Bonding in Ice**:
In the structure of ice, each oxygen atom is surrounded by four hydrogen atoms. This includes both covalent bonds and hydrogen bonds.

3. **Identifying Covalent Bonds**:
Each oxygen atom forms two covalent bonds with two hydrogen atoms. This is a strong bond where the oxygen shares electrons with hydrogen.

4. **Identifying Hydrogen Bonds**:
In addition to the two covalent bonds, each oxygen atom also participates in two hydrogen bonds. These are weaker interactions that occur between the oxygen atom of one water molecule and the hydrogen atoms of neighboring water molecules.

5. **Calculating Total Bonds**:
Therefore, the total number of bonds formed by each oxygen atom in ice is:
- 2 covalent bonds (with hydrogen)
- 2 hydrogen bonds (with neighboring water molecules)

Adding these together gives:
\[ \text{Total Bonds} = 2 \text{ (covalent)} + 2 \text{ (hydrogen)} = 4 \text{ bonds} \]

6. **Conclusion**:
Each oxygen atom in ice forms a total of 4 bonds.

### Final Answer:
Each oxygen atom in ice forms a total of 4 bonds (2 covalent bonds and 2 hydrogen bonds).

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