Why is the covalent bond between O and H considered polar?

Answer 1

Oxygen has an electronegativity of 3.44

Hydrogen has an electronegativity of 2.2

So Oxygen attracts the electrons so the oxygen side of the bond is more negative as the electron are closer to it, this forms permanent dipoles as parts of the molecule are have opposing charges.

And that is a polar covalent bond and non polar bond is is where you have two elements with the same EN and the electron is equidistant from them.

You can have non polar molecules with polar bonds for example carbon dioxide whitch is linear in shape so the charges cancel each other out.

Answer 2

Oxygen is a highly electronegative atom while hydrogen is a lot less electronegative as compared to oxygen. Thus, the oxygen atom will attract the electrons in the covalent bond towards itself. As a result, the oxygen atom gains a slight negative charge due to the closer proximity of electrons while the hydrogen atom gains a slight positive charge because its electrons are now further away from the protons.

Thus, the molecule formed will have slightly charged ends, which makes it polar.

Answer 3

Oxygen has a higher affinity to the electrons than hydrogen does.

A polar bond occures whenever the electrons in a molicule is unevenly distributed.

Answer 4

Oxygen has a much higher electronegativity than hydrogen. So, it draws electrons much more strongly, creating a dipole moment between oxygen and hydrogen, allowing for the polar bond.