The Water Molecule (H₂O)
The solvent of life, in 3D
Summary
A water molecule is made of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. Its bent geometry makes it polar, which is why it is known as life's "universal solvent".
In depth
In the water (H₂O) molecule, oxygen is the central atom, joined to two hydrogen atoms by covalent bonds. According to VSEPR theory, oxygen's two lone pairs of electrons bend the molecule to an angle of about 104.5°. Because oxygen pulls on the shared electrons more strongly than hydrogen (it is more electronegative), the molecule becomes polar; this is the source of water's vital properties, such as its surface tension, high specific heat and ability to form hydrogen bonds.
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