Final answer:
The true statement about water is that it participates in hydrogen bonding. Water molecules are held together by polar covalent bonds, not ionic bonds, due to the higher electronegativity of oxygen compared to hydrogen, which makes water a polar molecule capable of hydrogen bonding.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question seeks to clarify certain facts about water, specifically regarding its molecular structure and bonding. Among the options provided, the true statement about water is that water participates in hydrogen bonding. Water is a polar molecule due to the difference in electronegativity between hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
The hydrogen and oxygen atoms within a water molecule (H₂O) are held together by polar covalent bonds, not by ionic bonds. This is due to the shared electrons spending more time near the more electronegative oxygen atom, causing a partial negative charge on oxygen and a partial positive charge on hydrogen atoms. This unequal sharing of electrons leads to water's molecular polarity, which is responsible for water's ability to form hydrogen bonds between molecules.
Contrary to the third statement provided in the question, the hydrogen and oxygen atoms are not held together by an ionic bond. Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons from one atom to another, not sharing as seen in water molecules. Therefore, statement 3 is incorrect. Moreover, statement 4 is also incorrect because the electrons are not shared equally between hydrogen and oxygen, again due to the difference in electronegativity between the two atoms.
While water itself is not an element but a compound, the second statement is misleading by using the term element. However, water is undoubtedly important in our bodies, playing a crucial role in various biological processes.