Question

How many dipoles are there in a water molecule?

Answer 1

There are three dipoles in a water molecule.

Since O is more electronegative than H, the O-H bond is polar.

The negative end is at the O atom, and the positive end is at the H atom.

There are two O-H bonds, so there are two bond dipoles.

These two bond dipoles are vectors. They combine to form a vector sum with the resultant pointing from the mid-point between the H atoms to the O atom.

This resultant is the molecular dipole.

Two bond dipoles plus a molecular dipole make three dipoles.

Answer 2

There are three dipoles in a water molecule.

Since O is more electronegative than H, the O-H bond is polar.

The negative end is at the O atom, and the positive end is at the H atom.

There are two O-H bonds, so there are two bond dipoles.

These two bond dipoles are vectors. They combine to form a vector sum with the resultant pointing from the mid-point between the H atoms to the O atom.

This resultant is the molecular dipole.

Two bond dipoles plus a molecular dipole make three dipoles.

Answer 3

There are three dipoles in a water molecule.

Since O is more electronegative than H, the O-H bond is polar.

The negative end is at the O atom, and the positive end is at the H atom.

There are two O-H bonds, so there are two bond dipoles.

These two bond dipoles are vectors. They combine to form a vector sum with the resultant pointing from the mid-point between the H atoms to the O atom.

This resultant is the molecular dipole.

Two bond dipoles plus a molecular dipole make three dipoles.