LIFE SCIENCE

OBJECTIVE LIFE SCIENCE

MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
The oxygen atom in a water molecule has a partial ____ charge.
A
negative
B
positive
C
Either A or B
D
None of the above
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -Because oxygen is more electronegative-electron-greedy-than hydrogen, the Ostart text, O, end text atom hogs electrons and keeps them away from the Hstart text, H, end text atoms. This gives the oxygen end of the water molecule a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen end has a partial positive charge.

Detailed explanation-2: -The oxygen end of the molecule has a partial negative charge!

Detailed explanation-3: -Answer and Explanation: Oxygen has a partial negative charge because it has a polar covalent bond with hydrogen. In the water molecule, one oxygen atom is bound to two hydrogen atoms. Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen and thus pulls the electrons in the covalent bond closer towards its nucleus.

Detailed explanation-4: -In the covalent bond between oxygen and hydrogen, the oxygen atom attracts electrons a bit more strongly than the hydrogen atoms. The unequal sharing of electrons gives the water molecule a slight negative charge near its oxygen atom and a slight positive charge near its hydrogen atoms.

There is 1 question to complete.