Question

4. What is meant by the fact that water is a "polar" molecule?

A. Water has a slightly negative charge overall
B. Water has a slight negative and a slight positive charge at opposite poles
C. Water has a very evident charge, but only in a gaseous form
D. Water has a slightly positive charge, but only as a liquid

Answer 1

Hello!

A polar molecule is where one of the atoms in a molecule has a slight positive charge, and another has a slight negative charge, due to the unequal sharing of electrons.

Water is one of these molecules - the electrons spend more time around the oxygen atom in the center, and less around the hydrogens, so the hydrogen atoms have a slight positive charge, and the oxygen a slight negative.

Therefore, your answer is B, water has a slight negative and a slight positive charge at opposite poles.

Hope this helps!