Question

Why does the bonding of oxygen and hydrogen result in a polar molecule and hydrogen bonds?

Answer 1

I assume you are referring to the water molecule, `"H"_2"O"`.

`"H"_2"O"` is indeed a polar molecule because it has polar bonds between the oxygen atom and the two hydrogen atoms, and because its molecular geometry allows for the two bonds' dipole moments to add to each other, instead of cancelling out.

Since oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, the two bonds that are formed will be polar covalent, which means that a partial negative charge will be on the more electronegative atom - oxygen - and two partial positive charges will be on the less electronegative atoms - hydrogen.

According to VSEPR Theory, water has a bent molecular geometry, which allows for the formation of a net dipole moment.

A net dipole moment is formed when the two dipole moments of the bonds (shown in red in the above picture) add to each other (for more on this, see vector addition), which is what ultimately determines the polar nature of the molecule.

Hydrogen bonding takes place when hydrogen is bonded to either oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine; in the case of water, the partial negative end of one molecule will be attracted to the partial positive ends of another water molecule, which will have its partial negative end attracted to another water molecule's partial positive ends, and so on.