Question

the oxygen in a water molecule carries a slightly ________ charge

Explanation:

In a water molecule (\(H_2O\)), oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen. Electronegativity is the ability of an atom to attract electrons in a chemical bond. Due to this higher electronegativity, oxygen pulls the shared electrons in the \(O - H\) bonds closer to itself. As a result, the oxygen atom has a partial negative charge (\(\delta-\)) and the hydrogen atoms have partial positive charges (\(\delta+\)).

Answer:

negative