A hydrogen atom in a given water molecule is strongly attracted to which of the following in a neighboring water molecule?

• A. the covalent bond between hydrogen and oxygen
• B. another hydrogen atom
• C. the oxygen atom
• D. the lone pairs on the hydrogen atom

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that water molecules are polar, meaning they have a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom due to differences in electronegativity.
2. Recognize that hydrogen atoms in one water molecule are attracted to regions of negative charge in neighboring water molecules, which are typically the oxygen atoms because oxygen is more electronegative and has lone pairs of electrons.
3. Recall that the covalent bond between hydrogen and oxygen within the same molecule is not the site of attraction for hydrogen bonding; instead, hydrogen bonds form between molecules, not within them.
4. Note that hydrogen atoms do not attract other hydrogen atoms strongly because both have partial positive charges, leading to repulsion rather than attraction.
5. Conclude that the hydrogen atom in one water molecule is strongly attracted to the oxygen atom of a neighboring water molecule, specifically to the lone pairs of electrons on that oxygen, which creates hydrogen bonding.