Water is polar because
A
The unequal sharing of electrons gives the water molecule a slight negative charge near its oxygen atom and a slight positive charge near its hydrogen atoms
B
The molecule has two poles, at which the Hydrogen is colder than other regions of the molecule
C
The unequal sharing of electrons gives the water moelcule a slight negative charge near its hydrogen atoms and a slight positive charge near its oxygen atom.
D
The water molecule is neutral
The correct answer is A. The unequal sharing of electrons gives the water molecule a slight negative charge near its oxygen atom and a slight positive charge near its hydrogen atoms. This polarity arises because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, causing the electrons to spend more time around the oxygen atom, creating a partial negative charge, and leaving the hydrogen atoms with a partial positive charge.
The correct answer is option A: The unequal sharing of electrons gives the water molecule a slight negative charge near its oxygen atom and a slight positive charge near its hydrogen atoms.
To understand why water is polar, we need to look at its molecular structure and the nature of its chemical bonds. Water (H2O) consists of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to one oxygen atom. In a covalent bond, atoms share electrons to form the bond.
However, in water, the sharing of electrons between oxygen and hydrogen is not equal. Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning it has a stronger pull on the shared electrons. As a result, the electrons spend more time near the oxygen atom, giving it a slight negative charge. At the same time, the hydrogen atoms have a slight positive charge due to the electron density being pulled away from them.
This unequal distribution of charges creates a separation of charges within the water molecule, resulting in a positive and a negative pole. Hence, water is considered a polar molecule.
Option B, stating that the molecule has two poles at which the hydrogen is colder than other regions of the molecule, is incorrect. The temperature distribution within a water molecule is not related to its polarity.
Option C incorrectly implies that the slight negative charge is near the hydrogen atoms and the slight positive charge is near the oxygen atom, which is opposite to the actual distribution of charges.
Option D is incorrect because the fact that a water molecule is neutral overall does not mean it is not polar. Polar molecules can still have an overall neutral charge if the positive and negative charges are balanced.
A
The unequal sharing of electrons gives the water molecule a slight negative charge near its oxygen atom and a slight positive charge near its hydrogen atoms.