Question

Compare the structures of H₂O and H₂O₂.

Answer 1

In gaseous phase, the water molecule has a bent form with a bond angle of 104.5°. The O–H bond length is 95.7 pm. The structure can be shown as:

Hydrogen peroxide has a non-planar structure both in gas and solid phase. The dihedral angle in gas and solid phase is 111.5° and 90.2° respectively.

\[\begin{array}{cc}
\ce{H}\phantom{.......}\\
\backslash\phantom{......}\\
\ce{O - O}\\
\phantom{.......}\backslash\\
\phantom{........}\ce{H}
\end{array}\]