Why is water a polar molecule?
Please read:
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http://ghs.gresham.k12.or.us/science/ps/sci/ibbio/chem/notes/chpt2/polar.htm
Water is a polar molecule because of its molecular structure and the distribution of its electrons.
To understand why water is a polar molecule, we need to look at its molecular structure. Water (H2O) consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The oxygen atom has a greater electronegativity, which means it has a stronger pull on the shared electrons in the covalent bonds between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
In a water molecule, the oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons towards itself, creating a partial negative charge. This leaves the hydrogen atoms with a partial positive charge. The molecule, overall, has a bent shape with a 104.5-degree angle between the hydrogen atoms.
This unequal sharing of electrons creates a dipole moment in the water molecule. A dipole moment occurs when there is a separation of positive and negative charges within a molecule. In the case of water, the oxygen end of the molecule is slightly negative, and the hydrogen end is slightly positive.
As a result of this polar arrangement, water molecules can interact with each other through hydrogen bonding. The partial positive hydrogen atom of one water molecule is attracted to the partial negative oxygen atom of another water molecule, forming a weak hydrogen bond. These hydrogen bonds are responsible for many of the unique properties of water, such as its high boiling point, surface tension, and ability to dissolve many substances.
To find more information about the polar nature of water, you can refer to the provided sources. The first source seems to be broken, so I recommend using the second source from Gresham High School's science department. By reading the content in the source, you will gain a deeper understanding of the molecular basis behind water's polarity.