Draw at least 5 hydrogen bonds between the water molecules.

Draw at least 5 hydrogen bonds between the water molecules.

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

Here is a diagram showing at least 5 hydrogen bonds between water molecules:

mathematicaCopyEdit      H       H        H
      |       |        |
H—O···O—H···O—H···O—H···O—H
   |       |        |      |
   H       H        H      H

In the diagram:

• Each O represents an oxygen atom in a water molecule (H₂O).
• Each H connected to an O by a solid line (–) is covalently bonded to oxygen.
• The dotted lines (···) represent hydrogen bonds between a hydrogen atom of one molecule and the oxygen atom of a nearby water molecule.
• At least five hydrogen bonds are shown using dotted lines.

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Explanation

Water molecules exhibit a unique ability to form hydrogen bonds due to their polar nature. A water molecule consists of one oxygen atom covalently bonded to two hydrogen atoms. The oxygen atom is highly electronegative, pulling the shared electrons closer to itself. This causes the oxygen to carry a partial negative charge (δ−), while the hydrogen atoms carry a partial positive charge (δ+).

Hydrogen bonds occur when the positively charged hydrogen of one water molecule is attracted to the negatively charged oxygen of another molecule. These interactions are not true bonds like covalent or ionic bonds, but rather strong intermolecular attractions.

Each water molecule can form up to four hydrogen bonds — two through its hydrogen atoms and two through the lone pairs on its oxygen atom. In ice, a crystalline structure forms where each molecule is held in place by four hydrogen bonds, making ice less dense than liquid water. In liquid water, hydrogen bonds constantly form and break due to molecular motion.

The presence of multiple hydrogen bonds gives water several unique properties, such as high surface tension, a high boiling point relative to molecular weight, and the ability to dissolve many ionic and polar substances. These bonds also make water an excellent medium for biological processes, as they help maintain the structure of proteins and DNA.

In the diagram above, at least five hydrogen bonds can be observed between different water molecules. These bonds are essential in stabilizing the structure of water in various states and contributing to its behavior as a solvent and temperature regulator. The directional nature of hydrogen bonds also enables specific molecular orientations that are critical in biological interactions.