Final answer:
When a highly electronegative oxygen atom attracts the bonding electrons from two hydrogen atoms, it creates a polar bond and the material behaves as an acid.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a highly electronegative oxygen atom attracts the bonding electrons from two hydrogen atoms, the oxygen atom becomes slightly negatively charged while the hydrogen atoms become slightly positively charged. This creates a polar bond called an oxygen-hydrogen bond. The oxygen atom can then easily release hydrogen ions to the solution, making the material behave as an acid. This phenomenon is characteristic of nonmetallic elements and is known as hydrogen bonding.