Table of contents

Skip topic navigation

1. Intro to General Chemistry3h 48m
2. Atoms & Elements4h 16m
3. Chemical Reactions4h 10m
4. BONUS: Lab Techniques and Procedures1h 38m
5. BONUS: Mathematical Operations and Functions48m
6. Chemical Quantities & Aqueous Reactions3h 53m
7. Gases3h 49m
8. Thermochemistry2h 37m
9. Quantum Mechanics2h 58m
10. Periodic Properties of the Elements3h 9m
11. Bonding & Molecular Structure3h 29m
12. Molecular Shapes & Valence Bond Theory1h 57m
13. Liquids, Solids & Intermolecular Forces2h 23m
14. Solutions3h 1m
15. Chemical Kinetics2h 53m
16. Chemical Equilibrium2h 29m
17. Acid and Base Equilibrium5h 1m
18. Aqueous Equilibrium4h 47m
19. Chemical Thermodynamics1h 50m
20. Electrochemistry2h 42m
21. Nuclear Chemistry2h 36m
22. Organic Chemistry5h 7m
23. Chemistry of the Nonmetals2h 39m
24. Transition Metals and Coordination Compounds3h 16m

2. Atoms & Elements

The Atom

General Chemistry

2. Atoms & Elements

The Atom

Previous problemNext problem

Struggling with General Chemistry?

Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first video

Multiple Choice

In a water molecule (H₂O), which atom carries a partial positive charge?

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Oxygen

Carbon

Previous problemNext problem

Verified step by step guidance

Understand that in a water molecule (H₂O), the atoms involved are hydrogen and oxygen.

Recall that water is a polar molecule, meaning it has a distribution of charge due to differences in electronegativity between the atoms.

Identify that oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, which means oxygen attracts the shared electrons in the covalent bonds more strongly.

Recognize that because oxygen pulls the electrons closer, it gains a partial negative charge, leaving the hydrogen atoms with a partial positive charge.

Conclude that in a water molecule, the hydrogen atoms carry a partial positive charge due to the unequal sharing of electrons with the more electronegative oxygen atom.