Final answer:
Water is a polar molecule, which means it has a slight charge on either end of the molecule due to the difference in electronegativity between hydrogen and oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
When we say that water is a polar molecule, it means that water has a slight charge on either end of the molecule. This charge arises due to the difference in electronegativity between oxygen and hydrogen atoms in the water molecule.
Oxygen is more electronegative, so it attracts the shared electrons more strongly, creating a slight negative charge (δ-) on the oxygen atom and a slight positive charge (δ+) on each of the hydrogen atoms. This unequal sharing of electrons creates a polar molecule with a positive and negative end.
Water being a polar molecule has important implications in its properties such as its ability to dissolve polar substances and form hydrogen bonds.
Learn more about Polarity of water