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.
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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