Question

Why does water have a lopsided shape and act like a chemical magnet?

Answer 1

Answer:

See below  

Step-by-step explanation:

(a) Shape

The formula for water is H-O-H.

The central O atom has four electron pairs around it. They try to get as far from each other as possible, so they point toward the corners of a tetrahedron.

Only two of the pairs have a hydrogen atom attached, so water has a bent shape. The H-O-H bond angle is about 104°.

(b) Chemical magnet

The O atom has a greater attraction than H for the shared electrons in the O-H bonds, so the electrons spend more time near the O.

This gives the O atom a partial negative charge (pink in the diagram) and the H atoms a partial positive charge (blue).

The water molecule acts like a chemical magnet because its negative end attracts the positive ends of other molecules, while its positive ends attract the negative ends of other molecules.