2006-07-30 06:50:46 · 14 answers · asked by fab_flemo 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Because the hydrogen and the oxygen are ionically bonded. The oxygen atom is a giant next to the two teeny weeny hydrogen atoms.
2006-07-30 06:53:25 · answer #1 · answered by I Know Nuttin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The V shape is merely a snapshot representation that results from the combined electron field surrounding the water molecule. Actually the hydrogen atoms are relatively free to rotate about the much larger oxygen with respect to one another and in fact a collection of water molecules is constantly exchanging their hydrogen atoms. But then the V shape helps explain many of the amazing properties that water exhibits. If ice sank rather than floated we would not even be here logged on to discuss it, right?
2006-07-30 14:29:09 · answer #2 · answered by Kes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the oxygen has a pair of non-bonding electrons. The Hydrogen molecules "make room" for this non-bonding pair by making a V shape.
EDIT: To above commenter.. water is NOT an Ionic bond! It is quite covelant. Yes, there is a Hydrogen bond because oxygen has more electron affinity than Hydrogen. This electron affinity is much too weak to produce an ionic bond.
2006-07-30 13:54:22 · answer #3 · answered by stage_poi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen. This means that the oxygen atom pulls the electrons close to itself giving it a negative dipole moment, which each hydrogen atom is left with positive dipole moments. The dipole moment (intramolecular force) is not zero and so the atoms cannot exist in a linear configuration. This is why water is a polar molecule.
2006-07-30 14:15:01 · answer #4 · answered by Stephanie S 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is all about bonds. It has the hydrogen and then two oxygens. When bonding to another water molecule this becomes important because the hydrogen is positive and the oxygens are negative.
2006-07-30 13:54:45 · answer #5 · answered by stargazengrle 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As stated above, "the hydrogen and the oxygen are ionically bonded. The oxygen atom is a giant next to the two teeny weeny hydrogen atoms." Furthermore, there is a bit of attraction between the two Hydrogens, so they "veer" toward each other while attached to the much larger Oxygen which holds them.
2006-07-30 13:56:22 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Three atoms, determining a plane, is how we see it.
You can actually think about water being a tetrahedron. The Oxygen atom is at the center. On two vertices are the two hydrogen atoms. On the other two vertices are orbitals for the remaining non-bonding electrons from the Oxygen atom.
2006-07-30 20:18:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because oxygen has 4 electron rich regions, and only two of them get shared, so the othere push away the shared electrons which are connected to the hydrogen atoms
: :
O
/ \
H H
2006-07-30 14:07:35 · answer #8 · answered by ConradD 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a) that's how they 1st photographed it
b) cause in english there r no such vowels as >, < or Î, there4 they've choosen V.
c) the water molecule is not V shaped
d) there is not a real reson y, it just is
which of these do u think it is the right answer?
2006-07-30 13:59:18 · answer #9 · answered by James Blond 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because oxygen has more no. of paired electrons which force the bond to be a v shape
2006-07-30 13:54:22 · answer #10 · answered by dragonhead 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋