Which type of chemical bond is primarily responsible for holding the three atoms together in a water (H_2O) molecule?

• A. Hydrogen bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms
• B. Covalent bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms
• C. Metallic bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms
• D. Ionic bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the atoms involved in the water molecule: two hydrogen (H) atoms and one oxygen (O) atom.
2. Recall that in a water molecule, atoms are held together by bonds formed through the sharing or transfer of electrons.
3. Understand that hydrogen bonds are intermolecular forces occurring between different molecules, not within a single molecule.
4. Recognize that metallic bonds occur between metal atoms, which is not applicable here since hydrogen and oxygen are nonmetals.
5. Conclude that the atoms in a water molecule are held together by covalent bonds, where electrons are shared between hydrogen and oxygen atoms.