answersLogoWhite

0


Best Answer

Simplified, it's because its shape. Water exists as an oxygen bonded to two hydrogens, one on either side. Rather than being linear, the slightly "V" shape of the molecule places the positively charged hydrogens out of a linear alignment with the negatively charged oxygen.

The charge: The charge on these atoms exist because oxygen is very electronegative, drawing most of the electron density towards itself. As a result it gains a partially negative charge and the hydrogen atoms and partially positive charge.

The shape: Normally, the hydrogens would want to be as far apart from each other as is possible, giving the molecule a linear formation. However, water exists in a "V" shape (some say it looks like it has Mickey Mouse ears) This shape is caused because oxygen has two loan pairs of electrons present in an electron cloud. The thick electron cloud takes up a lot of space, so they push the hydrogens away to a considerable degree. This gives water a strong dipole moment, making it a very polar molecule indeed.

User Avatar

Wiki User

14y ago
This answer is:
User Avatar

Add your answer:

Earn +20 pts
Q: What does the dipole moment of water contribute to its properties?
Write your answer...
Submit
Still have questions?
magnify glass
imp
Related questions

Dipole moment vector of water molecule?

dipole moment of water is 1.85 Debye


Why is dipole moment of water greater than that of ammonia?

oxygen is more electronegative than nitrogen so we would expect a greater bond dipole for O-H as compared to N-H. Also water has two lone pairs whereas ammonia has only one. and these contribute to the net dipole moment.


Is H2o a dipole force?

Yes it is. there are lone pairs on the oxygen that induce the dipole moment


What forces between water molecules are responsible for many of water's unusual physical properties?

hydrogen bonds


Why is the dipole moment of water less than the dipole moment of alcohol?

Both CH2Cl2 and CHCl3 are bonded in a tetrahedral structure. The net dipole moment of CHCl3 is less than that of CH2Cl2 because the individual C-Cl dipole moments of CHCl3 cancel out each other to a greater extent.


What is the important of the water?

One of the main properties of water is its versatility: the water molecule is and acts like a dipole magnet. -


What is an ion-dipole bond?

An ion-dipole force is just how it sounds, an ion meets a molecule with a permanent electric dipole moment. An example would be Na+ with water, or Cl- with water, in an aqueous solution of NaCl.


What properties of water contribute to pollution?

people


What is the much more polar solvent?

Formamide is the most polar solvent. It has a dipole moment of 3.73 and a dielectric constant of 109. As a comparison, water has a dipole moment of 1.85 and a dielectric constant of 80. The higher the dipole moment value and the dielectric constant, the more polar the solvent. At the opposite, the less polar solvents are hexane, benzene and carbontetrachloride.


Explain how a water molecule can be attracted to both a positive ion and a negative ion when dissolving an ionic compound?

The shape and charge distribution in a water molecule cause it to have a permanent dipole moment, which consist of a positive electric charge and a negative charge separated by a distance in space. Therefore, the part of a water molecule that corresponds to the negative charge of its dipole moment is attracted to positive ions, and the part of a water molecule that corresponds to the positive charge of its dipole moment is attracted to negative ions.


What is an ion bond?

An ion-dipole force is just how it sounds, an ion meets a molecule with a permanent electric dipole moment. An example would be Na+ with water, or Cl- with water, in an aqueous solution of NaCl.


Water is a polar molecule because?

Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen and creates a dipole moment.