Which type of chemical bond results from the unequal sharing of electrons between hydrogen and oxygen in a water molecule?

• A. Ionic bond
• B. Metallic bond
• C. Nonpolar covalent bond
• D. Polar covalent bond

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the types of chemical bonds: Ionic bonds form when electrons are transferred from one atom to another, metallic bonds involve a 'sea' of shared electrons among metal atoms, and covalent bonds involve the sharing of electrons between atoms.
2. Recognize that in a water molecule (H\_2O), hydrogen and oxygen atoms share electrons rather than transfer them completely, so the bond is covalent rather than ionic.
3. Consider the electronegativity values: oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning oxygen attracts the shared electrons more strongly.
4. Because the electrons are shared unequally, the bond has a partial positive charge on hydrogen and a partial negative charge on oxygen, creating a dipole moment.
5. This unequal sharing of electrons in a covalent bond is called a polar covalent bond, which is the type of bond present in water molecules.