How does a lone pair distort the molecular shape?

The lone around the central atom is responsible for the lone pair bond pair repulsion. Thereby bond pairs show a distorted bond angle minimizing the lone pair bond pair repulsion. For example in H₂O, the central O atom has 6 valence electrons and it uses two valance electrons to form two covalent bonds with two H atoms. Covalent bonds are formed by mutual sharing of electrons. Now O atom is left with 4 unbonded electrons or two lone pair of electrons. The two lone pair of electrons on the central O atom create a bond pair- lone pair repulsion and consequently the bond angle in H₂O is not 180° but 104.5°, giving H₂O a bent shape instead of a linear shape.

The lone around the central atom is responsible for the lone pair bond pair repulsion. Thereby bond pairs show a distorted bond angle minimizing the lone pair bond pair repulsion. For example in H₂O, the central O atom has 6 valence electrons and it uses two valance electrons to form two covalent bonds with two H atoms. Covalent bonds are formed by mutual sharing of electrons. Now O atom is left with 4 unbonded electrons or two lone pair of electrons. The two lone pair of electrons on the central O atom create a bond pair- lone pair repulsion and consequently the bond angle in H₂O is not 180° but 104.5°, giving H₂O a bent shape instead of a linear shape.

Explanation:

it is b that is the answer.