Question

Which graphic below shows the correct orientation of each water molecule when it is near the cl- ion in the aqueous solution?

Answer 1

The question is missing the graphics required to answer which I have attached as an image.

There are four different representations of the orientation of water molecules around chloride anion. Let's first analyze the water molecule.

We have H-O-H as the structure of water. The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, which results in a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom.

The chloride anion is a negative charge. Therefore, the water molecules should orient themselves with the hydrogen atoms facing the chlorine atom as the partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms will be attracted to the negative charge of the chlorine atom.

The correct representation is shown in graph 3 which shows all hydrogen atoms facing the chlorine anion.