Last update: Dec 2nd, 2017

Chemical Properties of Water

• The environment around the neuron cell membrane, both inside and out, consists mostly of water.

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• Water molecules are composed of one oxygen atom (O) covalently bonded to two hydrogens atoms (H).

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• The covalent bond means oxygen and water share electrons.

• Their affinity for the shared electrons is not equal, however. The oxygen atom is more electronegative (an atom’s tendency to attract electrons).
• As a result, the negatively charged electrons tend to spend more time around the oxygen, which causes the water molecules to become polar.

• Most of the time, the oxygen side of the molecule is slightly negative and the hydrogen side is slightly positive.