![]() Because these bonds are weak, they are readily broken and re-formed during normal physiological reactions. These weak bonds play a crucial role in stabilizing the shape of many of the large molecules found in living matter. Because water molecules have this polarity, water is a continuous chemical entity. ![]() Similarly, the oxygen end of a molecule can form a weak attachment with the hydrogen ends of other molecules. This means water molecules have a tendency to form weak bonds with other water molecules because the oxygen end of the molecule is negative and the hydrogen ends are positive.Ī hydrogen atom, while remaining covalently bonded to the oxygen of its own molecule, can form a weak bond with the oxygen of another molecule. The orbits of the hydrogen atoms, because their electrons are closer to the oxygen, take on a small electropositive charge. This means that although the water molecule as a whole is stable, the greater mass of the oxygen nucleus tends to draw in all the electrons in the molecule including the shared hydrogen electrons giving the oxygen portion of the molecule a slight electronegative charge. But because the oxygen atom is larger than the hydrogen atom, its attraction for the hydrogen's electrons is correspondingly greater so the electrons are drawn closer in to the orbit of the larger oxygen atom and away from the hydrogen orbits. In a water molecule, two hydrogen atoms are covalently bonded to the oxygen atom. View this video animation that explains covalent bonding To reach this state of stability, both hydrogen and oxygen atoms create covalent bonds with each other, as illustrated in the diagram on the right. In order to be stable, the hydrogen atom must contain 2 electrons in its shell, and the oxygen atom must contain 8 electrons in its outer shell. However, both the hydrogen atom and the oxygen atom are not stable when they are alone. The inner orbit contains 2 electrons whereas the outer orbit contains 6 electrons. An oxygen atom is made up of 8 protons and 8 neutrons at its core and 8 electrons that revolve around the core in 2 separate three-dimensional orbits. Water is made up of one oxygen atom and 2 hydrogen atoms, hence the chemical symbol H 2O.Ī hydrogen atom is made up of 1 proton at its core and 1 electron that revolves around the core in a three-dimensional orbit. For stabilization, they share their valence electrons with other atoms.Ī water molecule is an example of a molecule created through covalent bonding. This sharing can be achieved through covalent bonding as described below.Ĭovalent bonding is a form of chemical bonding between two non-metallic atoms, such as hydrogen and oxygen, which is characterized by the sharing of pairs of electrons between two or more atoms. In order to reach a state of stability, atoms bond together to form molecules by sharing their valence electrons, or electrons that make up the outermost shell. But apart from inert gases such as helium, neon and argon, the outermost orbit of most atoms is missing one or more electrons to be stable. ![]() Each subsequent orbit, for atoms that contain more than 10 protons and electrons, also requires a pre-defined number of electrons to be stable. ![]() The second orbit must contain 8 electrons to be stable. The inner orbit closest to the core must contain 2 electrons to be stable. Electrons revolve around the atom’s core in three-dimensional orbits or shells.Įach of these molecular orbits needs a certain number of electrons to be stable. At the centre of the atom, neutrons and protons stay together to form the atom’s core or nucleus. The structure of atoms and moleculesĪn atom consists of positively charged protons, electrically neutral neutrons and negatively charged electrons. This section provides some basic concepts about the chemistry of water - explained in very simple terms - and is intended for curious minds who wish to better understand the science behind water ionization at the molecular level.
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