Question

When you run an electrical current through liquid water, the water molecules are split apart to form oxygen and hydrogen gas.

This transfer of energy caused a change to the _____ of water.

Answer 1

The electrical current in electrolysis changes the chemical structure of water by breaking the polar covalent bonds between hydrogen and oxygen atoms, resulting in the formation of hydrogen and oxygen gases.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you run an electrical current through liquid water, the water molecules are split apart to form oxygen and hydrogen gas. This transfer of energy caused a change to the chemical structure of water. In this process, known as electrolysis, energy from the electrical current disrupts the molecular bonds in water (H₂O), separating it into hydrogen (H₂) and oxygen (O₂) gases.

Water molecules consist of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms. The oxygen has a higher electronegativity compared to hydrogen, which makes water a polar molecule with a partial negative charge near the oxygen atom and a partial positive charge near the hydrogen atoms. During electrolysis, the electrical current provides enough energy to break the polar covalent bonds between hydrogen and oxygen, leading to the production of hydrogen and oxygen gases.

Answer 2

When you run an electrical current through liquid water, the water molecules are split apart to form oxygen and hydrogen gas. This transfer of energy caused a change to the bonds of water. Electrolysis of water will happen where water decompose to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas.