Final answer:
The water molecule is polar due to the significant difference in electronegativity between oxygen and hydrogen, leading to an unequal sharing of electrons and the creation of partial charges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, the water molecule is polar. When atoms with different electronegativities form a covalent bond, they share electrons unequally. In water, the oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons more than the hydrogen atoms, resulting in a partial negative charge near the oxygen atom and a partial positive charge near the hydrogen atoms. This unequal distribution of electron density creates a strong dipole, with the 104.5° bond angle enhancing the molecule's polarity. Additionally, water's ability to form hydrogen bonds, which are stronger than conventional dipole-dipole interactions, contributes significantly to its highly polar nature.