Describe how hydrogen bonding arises in water

Water is made up of one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms. Oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning the electrons in the hydrogen-oxygen bond are slightly more attracted to the oxygen. This makes the bond polar, with oxygen being slightly negative (δ- or "delta negative") and hydrogen slightly positive (δ+ or "delta positive"). There is a weak electrostatic interaction between these partial charges, so the slightly negative oxygen of one water molecule will be weakly attracted to a slightly positive hydrogen in another water molecule.

LT
Answered by Lucy T. Biology tutor

4916 Views

See similar Biology A Level tutors

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

Formation of phosphodiester bond


Describe the process of Oxidative Phosphorylation in the light dependent stage of photosynthesis


What is ATP and a DNA nucleotide and what is the difference between the two?


How does the sliding filament theory work?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning