What name is given to the bond between a hydrogen atom and and an oxygen atom within a single water molecule
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The bond between a hydrogen atom and an oxygen atom within a single water molecule is called a polar covalent bond.
In a water molecule (H₂O), the oxygen atom has a higher electronegativity than the hydrogen atoms. Electronegativity refers to an atom’s ability to attract shared electrons. Oxygen’s stronger electronegativity causes the electrons in the bond to be drawn more closely toward the oxygen, giving it a partial negative charge (δ-), while the hydrogen atoms become partially positive (δ+).
This unequal sharing of electrons creates a polar covalent bond, where there is a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. The “polar” nature refers to the electrical polarity of the molecule, where one end is slightly negative and the other end is slightly positive.
Although the bond is covalent, meaning the electrons are shared between the atoms, the sharing is not equal, which is why it’s considered “polar.” This polarity gives water its unique properties, such as a high boiling point, high specific heat, and the ability to dissolve a wide range of substances. The strong polarity of water molecules is also the reason water has a high surface tension and can form hydrogen bonds with other molecules, contributing to many of its biological and chemical functions.
In summary, the bond between hydrogen and oxygen in water is a polar covalent bond because of the unequal sharing of electrons due to the difference in electronegativity between oxygen and hydrogen.
