Table of contents

2. Atoms & Elements

The Atom

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Multiple Choice

In a water molecule (H₂O), which atom has a slightly negative charge?

Oxygen

Hydrogen

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that in a water molecule (H₂O), there are two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

Recall that oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen. Electronegativity is the tendency of an atom to attract electrons towards itself.

In a covalent bond, the more electronegative atom will attract the shared electrons more strongly, causing a partial negative charge on that atom.

Since oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, the shared electrons in the O-H bonds are pulled closer to the oxygen atom.

As a result, the oxygen atom in a water molecule carries a slightly negative charge, while the hydrogen atoms carry a slightly positive charge.

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