Campbell Biology (11th Edition)

Published by Pearson
ISBN 10: 0-13409-341-0
ISBN 13: 978-0-13409-341-3

Chapter 3 - 3.1 - Concept Check - Page 45: 4

Answer

If hydrogen and oxygen had equal electronegativity the polar property of water would be lost and hydrogen bonds could not form.

Work Step by Step

The polarity would be lost because the covalent bonds of water molecules would not be polar if the hydrogen and oxygen are equally electrogative. Without these polar bonds, hydrogen bonds could not form between water molecules therefore causing the water molecule to lose its overall polarity and the physical properties that come with it.
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