Pure water has polar covalent bonds. Each water molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to an oxygen atom. The electronegative oxygen atom attracts the electrons in the covalent bonds more strongly than the hydrogen atoms, creating a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on each hydrogen. These partial charges allow water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with each other, forming a network of strong intermolecular forces that are responsible for the unique properties of water.