Is Water (H2O) Ionic or Covalent?
Is Water (H2O) ionic or covalent?
Water has polar covalent O-H bonds. Oxygen (EN 3.44) pulls shared electrons closer than hydrogen (EN 2.20), creating partial charges but no complete electron transfer.
| Formula | H2O |
| Name | Water |
| Bond Type | Polar Covalent |
| EN Values | O: 3.44, H: 2.2 |
| EN Difference | 1.24 |
| Electron Behavior | Unequal sharing |
| Melting Point | 0 C (low) |
| Conductivity | Poor conductor (pure water) |
| Solubility | Universal solvent for polar/ionic substances |
| Key Concept | Polar covalent bonds with unequal electron sharing |
Overview
Water is the most familiar polar covalent molecule. Two nonmetals (O and H) share electrons, but not equally.
Electronegativity Analysis
Oxygen has an EN of 3.44, hydrogen has 2.20. The difference of 1.24 falls in the polar covalent range (0.4-1.7).
Electron Behavior
Electrons are shared between O and H, but oxygen pulls them closer. This creates a partial negative charge on oxygen and partial positive charges on each hydrogen.
Physical Properties
Polar covalent molecules have moderate melting points. Water is special because hydrogen bonding gives it unusually high melting/boiling points for its size.
See electronegativity values, partial charges, and bond character on interactive 3D molecules.
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