Final answer:
Water (H₂O) is a neutral molecule consisting of polar covalent bonds between oxygen and hydrogen atoms, with the shared electrons being more strongly attracted to the more electronegative oxygen atom.
Step-by-step explanation:
H₂O, or water, is a compound with a molecular structure that exhibits covalent bonding. In a water molecule, there are two hydrogen atoms (H) that are bonded to a central oxygen atom (O) through polar covalent bonds. These polar covalent bonds are formed because the shared electrons are more attracted to the oxygen atom, which is more electronegative, presenting the oxygen with a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges. This results in a neutral molecule whose outer electron shells are filled, making the molecule more stable.
In H₂O, the oxygen atom has six outer-shell electrons but requires eight for stability. Therefore, each hydrogen atom provides one electron to share, filling the oxygen's outer shell, hence the H₂O formula. Despite the interactions of the hydrogen ions (H*) with water being very strong, water in its purest form is a covalent compound and does not contain ions or dissociate in water as ionic compounds do.