Question

Why is water polar based on oxygen's pull on electrons as compared to Hydrogen's?

Answer 1

Because the oxygen atom in water tends to polarize electron density towards itself.

Explanation:

Because of the high nuclear charge of the oxygen atom, it tends to polarize electron density. The result is a molecule we could represent as `""^(delta+)H-^(delta-)O-^(delta+)H`, i.e. a dipole.