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.

With so much information to take in, it’s important to test how well you’ve really understood. We recommend using the method of active recall.

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