Final answer:
Hydrogen bonds are responsible for many of the critical properties of water, such as its solvent capabilities and the unique structure of ice.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of bonds that cause most of the important properties of water are hydrogen bonds. These are relatively weak bonds compared to covalent or ionic bonds and form between molecules where hydrogen is covalently bonded to a highly electronegative atom such as nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), or fluorine (F), and another electronegative atom. The polarity of water molecules contributes to their ability to form hydrogen bonds, which are crucial for the high boiling point, surface tension, and solvent properties of water, as well as the unique structure of ice.