In a water molecule, why are the electrons more highly attracted to and spend more time around the oxygen atom, giving it a partially negative charge?

A. Hydrogen is negative and repels the electrons

B. The electrons are distributed equally and there are no partial charges in water

C. Hydrogen doesn't benefit from the added electrons but oxygen does

D. Oxygen has more protons than hydrogen and water's shared electrons are drawn to it

Question

Biology

Ramiro Blanchard

20 February, 10:45

In a water molecule, why are the electrons more highly attracted to and spend more time around the oxygen atom, giving it a partially negative charge?

A. Hydrogen is negative and repels the electrons

B. The electrons are distributed equally and there are no partial charges in water

C. Hydrogen doesn't benefit from the added electrons but oxygen does

D. Oxygen has more protons than hydrogen and water's shared electrons are drawn to it

+2

Answers (1)

Know the Answer?

Angelique Hicks · Answer 1

The correct answer is: D. Oxygen has more protons than hydrogen and water's shared electrons are drawn to it

In water (H2O), each hydrogen atom has one positively-charged proton surrounded by a 'cloud' of one negatively-charged electron. The oxygen atom has a nucleus with eight positively-charged protons, eight uncharged neutrons and eight negatively-charged electrons. Two electron pairs of oxygen are forming covalent bonds with hydrogen, while other two pairs are lone pairs. The eight positive charges in the oxygen attract electrons strongly and this leaves the hydrogen atoms partially positively charged, and the oxygen atom partially negatively charged.