2007-11-20 05:03:20 · 5 answers · asked by High Voltage 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Hydrogen bonding!
Due to the configuration of the electron orbitals in the oxygen atom -- an sp3 configuration that forms a tetrahedron -- the water molecule is in a bent configuration. The two hydrogen atoms are on one side of the "central" oxygen (filling two of the four orbitals), and two filled orbitals are on the other side.
This makes water a polar molecule, with the hydrogens having a slight positive charge, and the filled orbitals having a slight negative charge. So, in bulk water, the hydrogens of water molecule A are attracted and weakly bonded to the electron orbitals of water molecule B. Water molecule B is attracted to molecules C and D, and so forth.
Contrast that to a molecule of methane, which is roughly of similar size and overall configuration, but has a hydrogen atoms bonded in all four of the electron orbitals -- there is no polar form, and the hydrogens are not attracted to each other, so methane is a non-polar molecule which boils at a much lower temperature (-161.4 °C) than water (100 °C).
Hope that helps.
2007-11-20 05:43:35 · answer #1 · answered by Dave_Stark 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dave has this spot on however it also accounts for Ice's weird properties. Ie it floats and is less dence than water just above freezing. The reason salt is used to grit the roads, as it breaks down the hydrogen bonding causing the ice to melt
2007-11-20 15:40:36 · answer #2 · answered by Paul D 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Paul D, the reason salt is put on the roads is that it lowers the freezing point of water...this is a COLLIGATIVE property and nothing to do with H-bonding.
2007-11-20 17:11:34 · answer #3 · answered by drjaycat 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
water has 3 bondings, dipole-dipole, van de waals forces and hydrogen bonding. :)
2007-11-20 17:36:14 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
dave is right its all about hydrogen bonding
2007-11-22 09:15:28 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋