Q. Given below are two statements : Statement (I): Experimentally determined oxygen-oxygen bond lengths in the $O_3$ are found to be same and the bond length is greater than that of a $O=O$ (double bond) but less than that of a single $(O-O)$ bond. Statement (II) : The strong lone pair-lone pair repulsion between oxygen atoms is solely responsible for the fact that the bond length in ozone is smaller than that of a double bond $(O=O)$ but more than that of a single $(O-O)$ bond. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below :
A) Both Statement I and Statement II are false
B) Statement I is false but Statement II is true
C) Statement I is true but Statement II is false
D) Both Statement I and Statement II are true
Explanation
[Solution by Dr. Abubacker] Resonance in ozone makes both O-O bonds equal with bond order $1.5$, so the length lies between a single and a double bond (Statement I true). The intermediate bond length is due to resonance (delocalisation), not 'solely' lone pair-lone pair repulsion (Statement II false). Answer (3).
Reviewed by Dr. Abubacker
Physics Educator & NEET/JEE Specialist
Ph.D. in Physics with 19+ years of teaching experience.