Final answer:
The bond formed between oxygen and hydrogen in water molecules is a covalent bond, more specifically, a polar covalent bond due to the difference in electronegativity, resulting in a molecule with a significant molecular dipole.The correct option is b.
Step-by-step explanation:
Based on the polarity of water molecules, the type of bond formed between oxygen and hydrogen is a covalent bond. A covalent bond is formed by the sharing of one or more electrons between atoms. In a water molecule, the oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, which means it attracts the bonding electrons more strongly. This creates a polar covalent bond, with a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and partial positive charges on the hydrogen atoms, leading to a polar molecule with distinct dipoles along the bonds.
Furthermore, because the water molecule is bent, these dipoles do not cancel out but combine to create a molecular dipole, which is crucial for water’s ability to act as a solvent and hydrogen bond with other polar molecules.