answersLogoWhite

0

The oxygen atom is much more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, meaning that it draws the electrons toward it more than the hydrogen atoms do. this causes a dipole moment, meaning that the molecule, even though it is neutral overall, has areas where there is a greater electron density than other areas of the molecule. the shared electrons spend a disproportionately high amount of time around the oxygen atom than they do around the hydrogen atoms, making the oxygen a negatively charged region and the hydrogens a positively charged region.

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

How does a drawing of polarity water and the bond polarities make a major contribution to the overall molecular polarity look?

The polarity is a vector quantity. The resultant of the polarity of bonds determines the polarity of the molecule. In CO2 there is polarity between the two C-O but the polarity is equal and opposite in direction so CO2 doesn't have polarity. If the polarity of bonds is not cancelled then the polarity remains in the molecule.


How does the polarity of water molecules make water an effective solvent?

The polarity of the water molecule is what makes water a great solvent. It called the universal solvent.


What causes the polarity of a water molecule?

the unequal sharing of electrons


Can there be lightning on Jupiter?

Yes, caused by water's polarity.


The polarity of a molecule is nearly always caused by the dominance of a relatively large positive nucleus?

In a molecule, polarity is usually determined by differences in electronegativity between the atoms. This leads to an uneven distribution of electrons, creating regions of partial negative and partial positive charges. The size of the nucleus does not directly influence the polarity of a molecule.


What is the relationship between bond polarity and molecular polarity?

The relationship between bond polarity and molecular polarity is that the overall polarity of a molecule is determined by the polarity of its individual bonds. If a molecule has polar bonds that are not symmetrical, the molecule will be polar overall. If a molecule has nonpolar bonds or symmetrical polar bonds that cancel each other out, the molecule will be nonpolar overall.


What property of water molecules is caused by their polarity?

specific heat


Methanol or water which is higher polarity?

Water is higher in polarity compared to methanol because water is a polar molecule that contains polar covalent bonds due to the unequal sharing of electrons, while methanol is also polar but to a lesser extent due to the presence of a methyl group that reduces the overall polarity of the molecule.


What is the relationship between bond polarity and molecular polarity in chemical compounds?

The relationship between bond polarity and molecular polarity in chemical compounds is that the overall polarity of a molecule is determined by the polarity of its individual bonds. If a molecule has polar bonds that are not symmetrical, the molecule will be polar overall. Conversely, if a molecule has nonpolar bonds or symmetrical polar bonds that cancel each other out, the molecule will be nonpolar.


Why is carbon dioxide a non polar molecule while water is polar molecule?

Carbon dioxide is linear any polarity in the C=O bonds cancel each other out. Water is bent the polarity in the O-H bonds does not cancel


Why is carbon dioxide a non polar molecule while water is a polar molecule?

Carbon dioxide is linear any polarity in the C=O bonds cancel each other out. Water is bent the polarity in the O-H bonds does not cancel


Why then is carbon dioxide a non polar molecule while water is a polar molecule?

Carbon dioxide is linear any polarity in the C=O bonds cancel each other out. Water is bent the polarity in the O-H bonds does not cancel