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All 10 Flashcards — Water molecule structure and polarity
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Question
Define a polar molecule.
Answer
A molecule with an **uneven spread of charge** — a slightly negative end and a slightly positive end.
Question
Define a covalent bond.
Answer
A bond in which two atoms **share a pair of electrons**.
Question
What is electronegativity?
Answer
How strongly an atom **pulls shared electrons** toward itself.
Question
In water, which atom is δ− and why?
Answer
**Oxygen** — it is more electronegative, so it pulls the shared electrons closer.
Question
In water, which atoms are δ+?
Answer
The **two hydrogen** atoms.
Question
What does δ (delta) mean on an atom?
Answer
A **partial** (slight) charge — much smaller than a full ionic charge.
Question
What is the approximate H–O–H bond angle?
Answer
About **104.5°** — the molecule is **bent**.
Question
Why is a whole water molecule polar (not just its bonds)?
Answer
Its **bent shape** means the partial charges **do not cancel** — they act on the same side.
Question
What type of bond joins O and H within a water molecule?
Answer
A **polar covalent** bond (electrons shared, but unequally).
Question
Why does water's polarity matter biologically?
Answer
It lets water molecules attract each other and other charged particles — the basis of water's life-supporting properties.
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