oxygen in water carries a partial negative charge, and hydrogen carries a corresponding partial positive charge making water a polar molecule?

Answer 1

Yes, that is correct. Water is a polar molecule because of its bent molecular shape and the unequal distribution of electrons between the oxygen and hydrogen atoms. The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, so it attracts the shared electrons more strongly, giving it a partial negative charge (δ-) and the hydrogen atoms a partial positive charge (δ+).