Hydrogen and Oxygen Atoms are Held Together Within an Individual

Question

Hydrogen and oxygen atoms are held together within an individual water molecule by ________ bonds.
A) hydrogen
B) peptide
C) polar covalent
D) ionic

Accepted Answer

Hydrogen and oxygen are held together within an individual water molecule by polar covalent bonds where the electrons are shared unequally between the two atoms. The electronegativity of oxygen is higher than that of hydrogen, which causes oxygen to pull shared electrons closer to itself, creating a partial negative charge, while hydrogen takes on a partial positive charge. This polarity creates hydrogen bonding between adjacent water molecules, which gives water many of its unique properties. Peptide bonds connect amino acids in proteins, not water molecules. Ionic bonds involve the transfer of electrons between atoms, which doesn't occur within a water molecule.