* Covalent Bond: The oxygen and hydrogen atoms share electrons to form the bond.
* Polar: Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning it has a stronger attraction to electrons. This causes the shared electrons to spend more time closer to the oxygen atom, giving it a slight negative charge (δ-) and the hydrogen atoms a slight positive charge (δ+).
This uneven distribution of charge within the molecule makes it polar, meaning it has a positive and a negative end. This polarity is crucial for many of water's unique properties, such as its ability to dissolve many substances and form hydrogen bonds.
