How does Hydrogen bonding arise in Water?

Hydrogen bonding occurs in water due to the large electronegativity difference between the hydrogen atoms and the oxygen atom.The oxygen attracts the shared pair of electrons towards itself leaving the hydrogen with a partially positive charge.This causes it to be attracted to lone pairs of oxygen on other water molecules forming a hydrogen bond.The formation of hydrogen bonds is what gives water its distinct properties.

Answered by Chemistry tutor

5413 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

How can you determine the shape of water?


Why is methylamine a stronger base than aminobenzene?


How can you work out, using the changes in oxidation numbers, which compound out of KCl, KBr and KI has the greatest reducing power?


Explain how a buffer solution controls pH


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:

© 2026 by IXL Learning