Why is hydrogen peroxide non-planar? I had my exam this week and one question asked whether $\ce{H2O2}$ was planar or not. I though that since the oxygen atoms are both sp³ hybridized and have two lone pairs each, the molecule should have a bent shape. I compared it $\ce{H2O}$ which also has the same shape and I knew was planar. But it turns out $\ce{H2O2}$ is not planar. Does anyone know the reason behind this?
Because the O atoms are sp3 hybrid and as a result they adopt a tetrahedral geometry, now the lone lairs also repel each other and also the bond pairs so according to VSEPR theory to minimize the repulsion and attain a confirmation of minimum possible energy, the molecular structure is non planar, although it deceptively looks planar in a flash! The actual structure is like that of an open book