In a water molecule (H_2O), what type of chemical bond holds the hydrogen atoms to the oxygen atom?

• A. Hydrogen bond
• B. Covalent bond
• C. Ionic bond
• D. Metallic bond

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atoms involved in the bond: In a water molecule (H_2O), the atoms are hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O).
2. Recall the types of chemical bonds: Ionic bonds involve transfer of electrons, covalent bonds involve sharing of electrons, metallic bonds involve a sea of delocalized electrons, and hydrogen bonds are intermolecular forces, not bonds within a molecule.
3. Consider the electronegativity difference between hydrogen and oxygen: Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, but the difference is moderate, leading to polar covalent bonds rather than ionic bonds.
4. Understand that in water, each hydrogen atom shares electrons with the oxygen atom, forming covalent bonds that hold the atoms together within the molecule.
5. Conclude that the bond holding hydrogen atoms to the oxygen atom in water is a covalent bond, specifically a polar covalent bond due to the difference in electronegativity.