How does the structure of a water molecule make it a polar molecule? A. Water is linear, so it has no polarity. B. Water has an even distribution of charge. C. The oxygen atom pulls electrons closer, giving the molecule a bent shape and uneven charge distribution. D. Water molecules share electrons equally between hydrogen and ox

Answer 1

The correct answer is C. The oxygen atom pulls electrons closer, giving the molecule a bent shape and uneven charge distribution.

Water (H₂O) is a polar molecule because of its bent shape and the difference in electronegativity between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning it attracts the shared electrons more strongly, creating a partial negative charge near the oxygen atom and partial positive charges near the hydrogen atoms. This results in an uneven distribution of charge, characteristic of polar molecules.