What type of bond exists between water molecules

Covalent bonds occur when two atoms—in this case oxygen and hydrogen—share electrons with each other. Because oxygen and hydrogen attract the shared electrons unequally, each end of the V-shaped H 2 O molecule adopts a slightly different charge. The area around the oxygen is somewhat negative compared to the opposite, hydrogen-containing end of the molecule, which is slightly positive. One or more of these asymmetric atoms pulls electrons more strongly than the other atoms.

For example, the polar compound methyl alcohol has a negative pole made of carbon and hydrogen and a positive pole made of oxygen and hydrogen see Fig. When molecules are symmetrical , however, the atoms pull equally on the electrons and the charge distribution is uniform. Symmetrical molecules are nonpolar. Because nonpolar molecules share their charges evenly, they do not react to electrostatic charges like water does.

Covalent molecules made of only one type of atom, like hydrogen gas H2 , are nonpolar because the hydrogen atoms share their electrons equally.

Molecules made of more than one type of covalently bonded nonmetal atoms, like carbon dioxide gas CO2 , remain nonpolar if they are symmetrical or if their atoms have relatively equal pull. Even large compounds like hexane gasoline C6H14 , is symmetrical and nonpolar. Electrostatic charges do not seem to have much, if any, effect on nonpolar compounds.

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This is because of the tiny, weak hydrogen bonds which, in their billions, hold water molecules together for small fractions of a second. Water molecules are constantly on the move. If they are moving fast enough they become a gas. A gas is a physical state of matter where the molecules are far apart and moving very quickly.

But, because of the hydrogen bonds, as water molecules come together they stick to one another for a small, but significant amount of time. This slows them down, and holds them closer to one another. They become a liquid; a different state of matter where the molecules are closer and slower than in a gas. Molecular water, therefore is a liquid at room temperature, a fact that is profoundly significant for all living things on this planet. Everything dissolves in water.

Stone, iron, pots, pans, plates, sugar, salt, and coffee beans all dissolve in water. Things which dissolve are called solutes and the liquid in which they dissolve is called a solvent. The water molecules surround the charged solute; positive hydrogens close to negative charges and negative oxygens close to positive charges on the solute molecule.

All this interaction suspends the solute molecule in a sea of water molecules; it disperses and dissolves easily. Electrons in the bonds between identical atoms H-H are shared uniformly, so the electrons spend equal amounts of time around each atomic center.