Solved: The O—H bond lengths in the water molecule (H2O)

Chapter , Problem 95AE

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Problem 95AE

The O—H bond lengths in the water molecule (H2O) are 0.96 Å, and the H—O—H angle is 104.5°. The dipole moment of the water molecule is 1.85 D. (a) In what directions do the bond dipoles of the O—H bonds point? In what direction does the dipole moment vector of the water molecule point? (b) Calculate the magnitude of the bond dipole of the O—H bonds. (Note: You will need to use vector addition to do this.), (c) Compare your answer from part (b) to the dipole moments of the hydrogen halides (Table). Is your answer in accord with the relative electronegativity of oxygen?

Table Bond Lengths, Electronegativity Differences, and Dipole Moments of the Hydrogen Halides

Compound	Bond Length (Å)	Electronegativity Difference	Dipole Moment (D)
HF	0.92	1.9	1.82
HCl	1.27	0.9	1.08
HBr	1.41	0.7	0.82
HI	1.61	0.4	0.44