Question

Water (H₂O) exhibits a dipole moment of approximately 1.85 D. The primary reason is:

Options

• The dipole moment arises only from the hydrogen nuclei

• Water has an equal distribution of charges throughout the molecule

• Water molecules are always neutral with no charge separation

• The bent molecular geometry causes unequal charge distribution, creating a net dipole moment

Answer 1

Water has a bent (angular) molecular geometry, not linear. This asymmetric arrangement causes the oxygen atom to withdraw electron density more strongly than the hydrogen atoms, resulting in unequal charge distribution. The combination of two polar O-H bonds in a non-collinear arrangement creates a net dipole moment pointing toward the oxygen atom (~1.85 D).