Is a lone pair of electrons larger or smaller or the same size as a bonded pair of electrons?

Answer 1

In a "lone pair" of electrons, the electrons are both negative charges and don't like each other. They will repel each other and get away from each other. Bonded electrons can be held closer together by the atoms involved in bonding.

Answer 2

The bonding pairs of electrons are the 2 electrons that are shared between 2 atoms, each atom contributs with one electron, hence they form a bond.

lone pair of electrons are the electrons that are owned by an atom. one lone pair refers to 2 electron.

for example, H2O, each hydrogen contributes with one electron to form a bond with oxygen. in the same time the oxygen contributes with 2 electrons (1e for each hydrogen) hence bonding pair of electrons.

the oxygen itself has 2 other lone pairs (4 electrons)

that's why it forms 2 bonds, so it reachs the most stable state (having 8 electons at the valence shell).

Answer 3

A lone pair of electrons is typically larger than a bonded pair of electrons because they are localized around one atom rather than being shared between two atoms in a bond. This results in greater electron repulsion, leading to a larger size compared to a bonded pair.

Answer 4

Both are valence electrons