Water is a liquid at room temperature primarily because of its unique molecular structure and intermolecular forces:
- Water molecules are polar, which means they have partial positive and negative charges due to the electronegativity difference between hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This polarity causes water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with each other—a type of strong intermolecular attraction. These hydrogen bonds hold the molecules close enough to keep water in a liquid state at room temperature instead of becoming a gas or solid.
- At room temperature, water has a definite volume but no fixed shape, enabling it to flow and take the shape of its container. The hydrogen bonds are strong enough to keep the molecules together in liquid form but are still weak enough to allow mobility, which is characteristic of liquids.
Thus, the presence of hydrogen bonding and the molecular polarity that results in moderate intermolecular forces are key reasons water remains liquid at room temperature.
