The partial negative charge in a molecule of water occurs because ________.

Question

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In a water molecule, the oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, which means that the electrons shared between them spend more time around the oxygen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom nucleus. This results in a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and a partial positive charge on each hydrogen atom, leading to the polar nature of the water molecule. This phenomenon is known as electronegativity difference.

The Partial Negative Charge in a Molecule of Water Occurs