Assertion : The nearly tetrahedral arrangement of the orbitals about the oxygen atom allows each water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with as many as four neighbouring water molecules.
Reason: In ice each molecule forms four hydrogen bonds as each molecule is fixed in the space.

Options

A. If both assertion and reason are true and the reason is the correct explanation of the assertion.
B. If both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of the assertion.
C. If assertion is true but reason is false.
D. If the assertion and reason both are false.

Answer

A

Explanation

Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
At any given instant in liquid water at room temperature, each water molecule forms hydrogen bonds with an average 3.4 other water molecules. The `H_2O` molecules are in continuous motion so hydrogen bonds are constantly and rapidly broken and formed. In ice `H_2O` molecules are, however fixed in the space lattice