* Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen: This means oxygen has a stronger pull on the shared electrons in the covalent bonds between oxygen and hydrogen.
* Bent molecular shape: The two hydrogen atoms are not directly opposite the oxygen atom. This creates a bent shape with the oxygen atom at the "peak" and the hydrogen atoms at the "base."
This uneven distribution of electrons and bent shape result in:
* Partial negative charge on the oxygen atom: The oxygen atom has a greater share of the electrons, giving it a slight negative charge (δ-).
* Partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms: The hydrogen atoms have a lesser share of the electrons, giving them a slight positive charge (δ+).
This creates a dipole moment in the water molecule, with a negative end (oxygen) and a positive end (hydrogen). It's this polarity that makes water such a unique and important molecule.
