Assertion: Lone pair-lone pair repulsive interactions are greater than lone pair-bond pair and bond pair-bond pair interactions.
Reason: The space occupied by lone pair electrons is more as compared to bond pair electrons.
(a) If both Assertion and Reason are correct and the Reason is a correct explanation of the Assertion.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are correct, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
(c) If Assertion is correct but Reason is incorrect.
(d) If both the Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
(b) If both Assertion and Reason are correct, but Reason is not the correct explanation of Assertion.
Explanation:
While the lone pairs are localised on the central atom, each bonded pair is shared between two atoms. As a result, the lone pair electrons in a molecule occupy more space as compared to the bonding pairs of electrons. This results in greater repulsion between lone pairs of electrons as compared to the lone pair -bond pair and bond pair - bond pair repulsions.