In A Single Molecule Of Water, Two Hydrogen Atoms Are Bonded To A Singe
A) Hydrogen Bonds.
B) Nonpolar Covalent Bonds.
C) Polar Covalent Bonds.
D) Ionic Bonds.
E) Van Der Waals Interactions.
The correct answer and explanation is :
The correct answer is C) Polar Covalent Bonds.
Explanation:
In a single molecule of water (H₂O), the two hydrogen atoms are bonded to a single oxygen atom via polar covalent bonds. To understand why this is the case, we need to delve into the concepts of covalent bonding and the properties of the atoms involved.
- Covalent Bonds: A covalent bond is formed when two atoms share electrons. In water, the oxygen atom has six valence electrons, while each hydrogen atom has one valence electron. To achieve a stable configuration (in this case, the octet rule for oxygen and duet rule for hydrogen), the oxygen atom shares its electrons with each of the two hydrogen atoms. This sharing of electrons forms covalent bonds.
- Polar Covalent Bonds: While the electrons are shared between oxygen and hydrogen, they are not shared equally. Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning it has a stronger pull on the shared electrons. As a result, the electrons spend more time closer to the oxygen atom, creating a partial negative charge (δ-) on the oxygen and a partial positive charge (δ+) on each hydrogen atom. This unequal distribution of charge within the molecule makes the bonds polar.
- Molecular Polarity: The polar covalent bonds in water, along with the bent molecular shape of the H₂O molecule (due to the lone pairs of electrons on oxygen), give the entire water molecule a polar nature. This means that one side of the molecule (the oxygen side) has a negative charge, and the other side (the hydrogen side) has a positive charge, leading to the formation of hydrogen bonds when multiple water molecules interact.
Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- A) Hydrogen Bonds: These are intermolecular forces, not bonds within a single molecule. In water, hydrogen bonds occur between molecules, not within a single molecule.
- B) Nonpolar Covalent Bonds: Nonpolar covalent bonds occur when electrons are shared equally between atoms, which is not the case in water.
- D) Ionic Bonds: Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons, leading to the formation of ions, which does not occur in a water molecule.
- E) Van Der Waals Interactions: These are weak intermolecular forces, but they are not the primary type of bonding in a water molecule.
Thus, the correct type of bonding within a single water molecule is polar covalent bonds.