H₂O₂ Lewis Structure

Hydrogen peroxide · A disinfectant and bleaching agent that slowly decomposes to water and oxygen.

• 14 valence e−
• bent
• 104.5° bond angle
• sp³
• polar

Calculated properties

How to draw the H₂O₂ Lewis structure

Step through it. The bar shows how much of the 14-electron budget is spent at each stage - it never grows, which is the whole constraint.

The reasoning at each step

1. Count the valence electrons

   Add up the outer-shell electrons every atom brings. That total is the budget for the whole structure - every line and every dot has to come out of it, and nothing may be added.

   2 x 1 (H) + 2 x 6 (O) = 14 valence electrons

2. Work out what is bonded to what

   The two O atoms bond to each other and split the hydrogens evenly between them.

3. Join everything with single bonds first

   Every connection starts as one shared pair. Draw them all before worrying about double bonds - the arithmetic in the next step is what tells you where the double bonds have to go.

   3 bonds x 2 = 6 electrons used, 8 left

4. Work out how far short you are

   Add up what every atom still needs to fill its shell - eight electrons for most atoms, two for hydrogen - minus what its single bonds already give it. Compare that with the electrons you have left. The difference decides everything that follows.

   needs 8, has 8, exactly enough

5. Fill in the lone pairs

   Every electron not in a bond sits as a lone pair on an atom. Each atom takes exactly what it needs to finish its shell - there is no choice left at this point.

   O1: 2, O2: 2 (8 electrons)

6. Check the formal charges

   Formal charge is valence electrons, minus lone-pair electrons, minus the number of bonds. Every atom here comes out at zero, which is the sign of a good structure.

   all formal charges = 0

7. Work out the shape

   Count the electron domains on O: 2 bonded groups plus 2 lone pairs. A double or triple bond still counts as one domain, because it points in one direction. That gives tetrahedral electron geometry; ignore the lone pairs and the atoms themselves sit in a bent arrangement. Two lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs, closing the angle well below 109.5 degrees.

   steric number 4 -> sp3 -> bent, bond angle 104.5

8. Decide whether it is polar

   The O-H bonds are polar, and the lone pairs on the central atom bend the molecule out of shape, so the dipoles do not cancel.

   dipoles do not cancel -> polar

Is H₂O₂ polar or nonpolar?

H₂O₂ is polar. The O-H bonds are polar, and the lone pairs on the central atom bend the molecule out of shape, so the dipoles do not cancel.

Common questions

How many valence electrons does H₂O₂ have?

H₂O₂ has 14 valence electrons. 6 of them are in bonds and 8 sit in lone pairs.

What is the molecular geometry of H₂O₂?

H₂O₂ is a bent molecule. The central O has 2 bonded groups and two lone pairs, a steric number of 4, which gives tetrahedral electron geometry and a bent molecule.

What is the bond angle in H₂O₂?

The bond angle in H₂O₂ is 104.5 degrees. Two lone pairs repel more strongly than bonding pairs, closing the angle well below 109.5 degrees.

What is the hybridization of H₂O₂?

The central O in H₂O₂ is sp³ hybridized. Steric number 4 means 4 orbitals have to be mixed, which is exactly what sp³ gives you.

Is H₂O₂ polar or nonpolar?

H₂O₂ is polar. The O-H bonds are polar, and the lone pairs on the central atom bend the molecule out of shape, so the dipoles do not cancel.

Related molecules

• H₂O also built around O
• O₃ also built around O
• H₂S also bent
• SO₂ also bent
• NO₂ also bent
• O₂ also built around O