Final answer:
Water's unique properties, such as a high boiling point, acting as a universal solvent, and ice being less dense than liquid water, are attributed to the hydrogen bonding between water molecules, which is facilitated by the polarity and bent shape of the molecules.
Step-by-step explanation:
The unique properties of water that can be attributed to hydrogen bonding include its high boiling point, high specific heat of vaporization, and the fact that it remains a liquid at room temperature unlike most other molecules of similar size.
Additionally, water's hydrogen bonds contribute to its role as a universal solvent, allowing many substances to dissolve more readily in water than in other liquids. These bonds also cause ice to be less dense than liquid water, providing insulation for aquatic life in cold environments.
The cohesion and adhesion properties of water, allowing it to move through capillary action and help plants transport nutrients, are also due to hydrogen bonding.
Hydrogen bonds in water occur because of the polarity of the water molecules, where the oxygen atom is more electronegative and thus holds a partial negative charge, while hydrogen atoms hold a partial positive charge.
This polarity and the bent molecular shape enable each water molecule to form hydrogen bonds with up to four other water molecules, creating a structured network.