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Keith Kuykendall
Science Teacher
Tinley Park High School
6111 W. 175th Street,
Tinley Park, IL 60477
708-532-1900x3912 kkuykendall@bhsd228.com
Water is a simple compound of 2 hydrogen atoms bonded to a single oxygen atom. The presence of 2 unbonded pairs of electrons on the oxygen atom produces a molecule with four nearly symmetric regions of electron density (the 2 bonds plus the two unbonded pairs). In three dimension, 4 points surrounding a central point (here the oxygen atom) form a tetrahedral system.
Because hydrogens occupy only two points on the tetrahedron, the molecular structure appears "bent". This also produces an asymmetric distribution of charge associated with polar solvents. The side with the hydrogens is much more positive than the side with the unbonded pairs. The result, by electrostatic attraction, water is a good solvent for polar solutes like ionic salts.
See a model of water.
© 2004 by Keith Kuykendall. All rights reserved.