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In H2O, electrons are more localized in the hydrogen atoms than in the oxygen atoms.

Question

In H2O, electrons are more localized in the hydrogen atoms than in the oxygen atoms.

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Solution

The statement indicates a misconception about the electron distribution in water (H₂O). In reality, the electrons in H₂O are not more localized in the hydrogen atoms than in the oxygen atom.

In a water molecule, oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, meaning it has a stronger tendency to attract electrons. As a result, the electrons in the O-H bonds are shared unequally. The oxygen atom tends to pull the shared electron pairs closer to itself, resulting in a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms. This creates a polar molecule where the electron density is greater around the oxygen atom compared to the hydrogen atoms.

Therefore, the concentration of electron density is higher around the oxygen in H₂O, not the hydrogen atoms. This uneven distribution of electrons is pivotal for many of water's unique properties, including its solvent capabilities and high surface tension.

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