In a water molecule (H_2O), what kind of partial charge does the oxygen atom have compared to the hydrogen atoms?

• A. Both oxygen and hydrogen atoms have neutral charges.
• B. Oxygen has a partial positive charge, while hydrogen atoms have partial negative charges.
• C. Oxygen and hydrogen atoms both have partial positive charges.
• D. Oxygen has a partial negative charge, while hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that in a water molecule (H_2O), the atoms are bonded covalently, meaning they share electrons.
2. Recognize that oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, which means oxygen attracts the shared electrons more strongly.
3. Because oxygen pulls the shared electrons closer, it gains a partial negative charge, denoted as \(\delta^-\).
4. Conversely, the hydrogen atoms, having lost some electron density to oxygen, acquire partial positive charges, denoted as \(\delta^+\).
5. Therefore, the oxygen atom in water has a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges.