Why are the hydrogen ends of each water molecule positive and the oxygen end negative?

• A. Because water molecules are symmetrical, causing equal charge distribution.
• B. Because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, it attracts the shared electrons more strongly, resulting in a partial negative charge on oxygen and a partial positive charge on hydrogen.
• C. Because the oxygen atom loses electrons to the hydrogen atoms, making oxygen positive.
• D. Because hydrogen atoms have more protons than oxygen, making them more positive.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of electronegativity, which is the tendency of an atom to attract shared electrons in a chemical bond.
2. Recognize that in a water molecule (H\_2O), oxygen and hydrogen atoms are bonded covalently, sharing electrons.
3. Note that oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning oxygen pulls the shared electrons closer to itself.
4. This uneven sharing causes the oxygen atom to have a partial negative charge (δ-) because it has a higher electron density.
5. Conversely, the hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge (δ+) because the shared electrons are pulled away from them, creating a polar molecule with positive ends at hydrogen and a negative end at oxygen.