What is what does it mean when water is polar?

Water is considered a polar molecule because of its bent shape and the electronegativity difference between oxygen and hydrogen. Here's a breakdown:

• Unequal Sharing of Electrons: Oxygen is more <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/electronegative">electronegative</a> than hydrogen. This means oxygen has a stronger pull on the electrons in the covalent bonds that form water (H₂O).

• Partial Charges: Because oxygen attracts electrons more strongly, it gains a partial negative charge (δ-). Conversely, the hydrogen atoms each gain a partial positive charge (δ+).

• Bent Shape: The <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/molecular%20geometry">molecular geometry</a> of water is bent, not linear. This shape is due to the two lone pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom, which repel the bonding pairs of electrons. The bent shape is crucial because it ensures that the partial charges do not cancel each other out.

• Dipole Moment: The uneven distribution of charge creates a <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/dipole%20moment">dipole moment</a> in the water molecule, where one end of the molecule is slightly negative and the other end is slightly positive.

• Hydrogen Bonding: Water's polarity allows it to form <a href="https://www.wikiwhat.page/kavramlar/hydrogen%20bonds">hydrogen bonds</a> with other water molecules and other polar substances. This is responsible for many of water's unique properties, such as its high surface tension, high boiling point, and its ability to act as a universal solvent.