QQuestionChemistry
QuestionChemistry
Which statement best describes why a water molecule is polar?
A. Oxygen exerts a stronger pull on the shared electrons than the hydrogens do.
B. There are two hydrogen atoms, but only one oxygen atom.
C. Electrons are always shared equally.
D. Oxygen is bigger than hydrogen, giving it a stronger positive charge.
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Answer
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Step 1I'll solve this step by step, focusing on the molecular structure and electron distribution.
Step 2: Understand Electronegativity
- Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond - Oxygen has a higher electronegativity (3.44) compared to hydrogen (2.20)
Final Answer
Oxygen exerts a stronger pull on the shared electrons than the hydrogens do.
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