Is Water (H₂O) Polar or Nonpolar?
Is Water (H₂O) polar or nonpolar?
Water has two polar O–H bonds (ΔEN = 1.24). The bent geometry (104.5°) means the dipoles point in different directions and do not cancel. The net dipole points from the hydrogens toward the oxygen.
| Formula | H₂O |
| Polarity | Polar |
| Molecular Geometry | Bent |
| O–H Bond | ΔEN = 1.24 (polar) |
| Net Dipole | Yes |
Bond Dipoles
Each O–H bond has an electronegativity difference of 1.24 (O = 3.44, H = 2.20). Oxygen pulls electron density toward itself, creating a δ- on oxygen and δ+ on each hydrogen.
Molecular Shape & Dipole Cancellation
Water has a bent geometry (104.5°) due to two lone pairs on oxygen. The bond dipoles point at an angle to each other, so they cannot cancel out.
Net Dipole Moment
The two bond dipoles add together to give a net molecular dipole pointing from the hydrogens toward the oxygen. This makes water a strongly polar molecule - explaining why it dissolves salts and has a high boiling point.
See bond dipoles, partial charges, and net dipole moments on interactive 3D molecules.
Visualize Water's Polarity in 3DRelated Topics
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