The bond found between the oxygen and hydrogens in this molecule (such as in water, H₂O) is a polar covalent bond. This means the oxygen and hydrogen atoms share electrons, but the sharing is unequal because oxygen is more electronegative and attracts the shared electrons more strongly. As a result, the electrons spend more time near the oxygen atom, giving it a partial negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms have a partial positive charge. This polarity leads to the molecule having a dipole moment
. In summary:
- The O–H bond is a covalent bond formed by sharing electrons.
- It is specifically a polar covalent bond due to the difference in electronegativity between oxygen and hydrogen
- This polarity also enables intermolecular hydrogen bonding between molecules, but the bond within the molecule itself is polar covalent
Therefore, the bond between oxygen and hydrogen atoms in the molecule is a polar covalent bond.
