Why is the lattice structure of ice a tetrahedron?

Question

does it have anything to do with the arrangement of the covalent and hydrogen bonds in a way to minimise repulsion?

Answer 1

Ice is a totally hydrogen-bonded structure, with all four electron pairs in the outer level of each O atom equally involved, and all the O-H bond distances equal. The angle is not the same as in liquid water, but goes back to the pure tetrahedral angle of 109.5 degrees. The best way of visuallising the structure of ice is that it is the same as diamond, with O atoms replacing the C atoms, and with an H atom exactly half way between all the O atoms.

Answer 2

Because of the angle at which the two hydrogen atoms bond with the oxygen atom in an H2O atom. That angle is 104.45 degrees. So when they lock together in a crystal lattice, the angle makes it form a tetrahedron.

Answer 3

Wht ice is made of ? .. simlple its water(H2O).

wht is the structure of water?........ its tetrahedron(distorted).

So the structure of ice is also tetrahedron.