... shared electrons than the comparatively tiny hydrogen nuclei. This pulls the electrons slightly closer to the oxygen nucleus and away from the hydrogen so that the oxygen develops a slight negative charge and the hydrogen's a slight positive charge. This makes the molecules slightly polar. Diagram of water molecule showing slight charges This slight charge means that when water molecules are close together the positively charged hydrogen atoms are attracted to the negatively charged oxygen atoms of another water molecule to form a weak hydrogen bond. The bonds are weak individually but the sheer number of them means that the total force keeping the molecules together is considerable. Diagram of water molecules forming hydrogen bonds Water is an unusual substance, mostly due to it's hydrogen bonds, it's properties allow it to act as a solvent, a reactant, as a molecule with a cohesive properties, as an environment and as a temperature stabiliser. Water can dissolve polar ...

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