This was something I thought of when I had to learn all about water for my first chapter of biochem. Water has two hydrogen bond donors and acceptors. The donors are the two hydrogens that will attract to the lone pairs on other oxygens of water molecules. The acceptors are the two lone pairs on the single oxygen in a water molecule.

When water freezes and packs in a hexagon, it’s as though there’s only one H-bond made with the O and not two. If there were two H-bonds made, then it’d look more like triangles. (actually, it wouldn’t, and I don’t even know what shape it’d look like for it to work. sorry it’s late and I haven’t slept yet)

Why is the O forming only one H-bond when it has two H-bond acceptors (lone pairs)?

Thanks:)

EDIT: Is it because that’s the best way that water has decided it can orient itself to get as many H-bonds as it can?

I mean, I would say that maybe someone can draw or think or a way where you could get all four H-bonds, but then the answer to that would be that nature just doesn’t do it that way? lol