Question

Which statement correctly explains the polarity of the water molecule?. A) The hydrogen end of the molecule has a partial negative charge and the oxygen end has a partial positive charge.. B) The oxygen end of the molecule has a partial negative charge and the hydrogen end has a partial positive charge. . C) Both ends of the molecule have a partial negative charge, which attracts the other water molecule towards itself.

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is Option B.

Explanation:

Polarity of a molecule arises when difference in electronegativities is present between the atoms.

Water is a molecule which is formed from hydrogen and oxygen atoms.

Electronegativity of oxygen atom = 3.44

Electronegativity of hydrogen atom = 2.1

Difference in electronegativity = (3.44 - 2.1) = 1.34

An atom which is more electronegative will attract a shared pair of electron towards itself and will carry a partial negative charge. And the atom which is less electronegative will carry a partial positive charge.

Hence, in water molecule, hydrogen will carry a partial positive charge and oxygen atom will carry a partial negative charge.

Hence, the correct answer is Option B.

Answer 2

Answer: option B) The oxygen end of the molecule has a partial negative charge and the hydrogen end has a partial positive charge.

Justification:

The electronegativity of an element accounts for its relative ability to attract electrons.

Being oxygen more electronegative than hdyrogen (the electronegativity of oxygen is 3.44 while the electronegativity of the hydrogen is 2.20), the electron density will be displaced toward the oxygen, letting it with a partial negative charge and the hydrogen with a partial positive charge.

Finally, since the charge is not symmetrical distributed around a center of the molecule, the molecule ends being polar.