Final answer:
The polarity of water is caused by the oxygen atom's greater pull on the electrons due to its higher electronegativity compared to hydrogen, leading to a partial negative charge on oxygen and a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The polarity of water is attributed to the oxygen atom's greater pull on the electrons. Water is known as a polar molecule because the oxygen atom is more electronegative than hydrogen atoms. This higher electronegativity means that the shared electrons between oxygen and hydrogen atoms spend more time closer to the oxygen atom. As a result, there's a partial negative charge at the oxygen end of the water molecule, and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms, which creates a separation of charge, or a dipole, within the molecule.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is: The polarity of water is attributed to D. the large size of the oxygen atom which has a greater pull on the electrons. The larger and more electronegative oxygen nucleus attracts the shared electrons more than the smaller hydrogen nuclei, making water a polar molecule with a unique bent structure that allows for hydrogen bond formation and gives water its unique properties.