Question

The water molecule has a dipole with the negative portion
A) localized on one of the hydrogens
B) localized between the hydrogen atoms
C) pointing toward the oxygen atom
D) pointing from the oxygen through the hydrogen atoms

Answer 1

answer : option (C) pointing towards the oxygen atoms.

explanation : we know, water is polar covalent compound because hydrogen and oxygen both are non-metals and electronegativity difference between them is not negligible.

electronegativity of H < electronegativity of O. it means , oxygen has tendency to attract lone pair towards itself. this reason, negative portion indicates toward oxygen atom whereas positive portion indicates toward hydrogen atom.

e.g., $H^{+\delta}-->>--O^{-\delta}--<<--H^{+\delta}$