Hydrogen Bonding and Water Molecule Properties

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts about hydrogen bonding, water polarity, and related bond types as presented in Page 1 notes.

Hydrogen bond

A weak attraction between a partially positive hydrogen atom and a partially negative atom; can occur within a molecule or between molecules; individual bonds are easily broken, but many together are strong; helps maintain the structure and function of complex molecules.

Water molecule

A bent, polar molecule formed by two hydrogen atoms covalently bonded to an oxygen atom; polarity enables hydrogen bonding.

Polarity

The uneven distribution of electrical charge within a molecule, creating partial positive and partial negative regions.

Polar covalent bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are shared unequally due to differences in electronegativity; in water, the O–H bonds are polar covalent.

Nonpolar covalent bond

A covalent bond in which electrons are shared equally, resulting in no partial charges; example: bonds in oil.

Electronegativity

A measure of an atom's ability to attract electrons; in water, oxygen's high electronegativity creates a partial negative charge on O and a partial positive charge on H.