Multiple Choice
Which of the following best explains why water (H_2O) is a polar molecule?
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1. Intro to General Chemistry
Chemical Properties
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Which of the following best explains why water (H2O) is a polar molecule?
A
Water contains only nonpolar covalent bonds.
B
Water has a linear molecular geometry.
C
Water molecules are held together by ionic bonds.
D
Water has a bent molecular shape and an unequal sharing of electrons between oxygen and hydrogen atoms.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that molecular polarity depends on both the polarity of individual bonds and the shape of the molecule.
Recognize that the O-H bonds in water are polar because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, causing unequal sharing of electrons.
Identify the molecular geometry of water as bent (or V-shaped) due to the two lone pairs on oxygen, which affects the overall distribution of charge.
Combine the effects of polar O-H bonds and the bent shape to see that the dipole moments do not cancel out, resulting in a net dipole moment.
Conclude that water is polar because it has polar bonds arranged in a bent shape, leading to an uneven distribution of charge across the molecule.
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