Question

A water molecule (H₂O) behaves like a natural electric dipole because:

Options

• The oxygen atom alone acts as an isolated point charge

• Its two hydrogen atoms carry large negative charges

• Its oxygen and hydrogen atoms carry small opposite charges separated by a tiny distance

• It contains no charged particles at all

Answer 1

In H₂O, the oxygen and hydrogen atoms carry small opposite charges separated by a tiny distance, forming a natural electric dipole. The direction-dependent nature of dipole potential helps explain why water is such an effective solvent at the molecular level.