Polar Covalent Bonds

Bonding in Water Molecules

• A polar covalent bond is formed between oxygen and hydrogen in a water molecule (H2O).

Polarity of the Bond

• The bond between oxygen and hydrogen is considered polar because oxygen is a highly electronegative atom, while hydrogen is not very electronegative.
• This unequal bond results in oxygen having a partial negative charge, and hydrogen having a partial positive charge.

Characteristics of Water Molecules

• The water molecule's features are often described using the magnet analogy, with the oxygen end having a partial negative charge (like the negative pole of a magnet) and the hydrogen end having a partial positive charge (like the positive pole of a magnet).
• The most common example of a highly polar covalent bond is the bond between oxygen and hydrogen in a water molecule.
• The polarity of the bond between oxygen and hydrogen gives water molecules features similar to a magnet, with the oxygen atom having a partial negative charge.