Questions: The partial positive charge in a molecule of water occurs because one of the hydrogen atoms donates an electron to the oxygen atom, the oxygen atom donates an electron to each of the hydrogen atoms, the oxygen atom has two pairs of electrons in its valence shell that are not neutralized by hydrogen atoms, valence electrons spend more time around the oxygen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom nucleus.
Transcript text: The partial positive charge in a molecule of water occurs because $\qquad$
one of the hydrogen atoms donates an electron to the oxygen atom
the oxygen atom donates an electron to each of the hydrogen atoms
the oxygen atom has two pairs of electrons in its valence shell that are not neutralized by hydrogen atoms
valence electrons spend more time around the oxygen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom nucleus
Solution
Solution Steps
Step 1: Understanding the Partial Positive Charge in Water
In a water molecule (H\(_2\)O), the oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms. This means that the oxygen atom attracts the shared electrons in the covalent bonds more strongly than the hydrogen atoms do.
Step 2: Analyzing the Options
Option 1: One of the hydrogen atoms donates an electron to the oxygen atom. This is incorrect because in a water molecule, electrons are shared, not donated.
Option 2: The oxygen atom donates an electron to each of the hydrogen atoms. This is incorrect because the oxygen atom does not donate electrons; it shares them.
Option 3: The oxygen atom has two pairs of electrons in its valence shell that are not neutralized by hydrogen atoms. While this is true, it does not directly explain the partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms.
Option 4: Valence electrons spend more time around the oxygen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom nucleus. This is correct because the higher electronegativity of oxygen causes the shared electrons to spend more time around the oxygen atom, resulting in a partial negative charge on the oxygen and a partial positive charge on the hydrogen atoms.
Final Answer
\[
\boxed{\text{valence electrons spend more time around the oxygen atom nucleus than around the hydrogen atom nucleus}}
\]