The Importance Water as a molecule

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The Importance Water as a molecule

Polar Structure

Water has the chemical formula H2O and each water molecule consists of

an oxygen atom covalently bonded to two hydrogen atoms at an angle of

104. The oxygen atom has a nucleus containing eight positively charged

protons, 8 neutrons and 8 negatively charged electrons. (diagram)

The oxygen atom has an overall partial negative charge while the

hydrogen atoms have slight positive charges, this is because the

electrons are associated with the oxygen nucleus than the hydrogen

nuclei and these electrons form a region of negative electric charge,

making the whole molecule electrically polarized. It creates partially

negative and partially positive charges on the ends of a water

molecule. This uneven charge distribution results in the molecule as

being described polar and they accounts for the strong bonding between

molecules and for the unusual properties of water, e.g. expansion as

it freezes. Because water molecules are polar (electronegative atom),

they have an attraction for each other and form hydrogen bonds

(stronger