Final answer:
The unique properties of water are due to hydrogen bonds, which occur due to the polarity of water molecules caused by the unequal sharing of electrons in their polar covalent bonds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of chemical bond responsible for the unique properties of water such as adhesion, cohesion, and others is the hydrogen bond. Water molecules are polar, with oxygen having a partial negative charge and hydrogen having a partial positive charge. This polarity leads to an attraction between the partially positive hydrogen of one water molecule and the partially negative oxygen of another, forming a hydrogen bond. While water molecules are held together by polar covalent bonds, the hydrogen bonds are responsible for the emergent properties of water. These hydrogen bonds are relatively weak compared to ionic or stronger covalent bonds, but they are essential in giving water its cohesive and adhesive characteristics, affecting its solvent capabilities and influencing the structure of ice.
Covalent bonds in water molecules arise because oxygen and hydrogen have different electronegativities, meaning they share electrons unequally. This unequal sharing creates the dipole moment with a negative end near the oxygen and positive ends near the hydrogens. However, when multiple water molecules are near each other, the opposite charges attract, leading to the formation of hydrogen bonds between molecules.