exerts a stronger pull on the electrons (small
dots) it shares with the hydrogen atoms, the
water molecule is electrically unsymmetrical.
The separation of positive and negative
centers of charge leads to the formation of
weak bonds between oppositely charged
centers on different molecules. These weak
bonds between molecules, shown here by
dashed lines, are called hydrogen bonds.
Water Is Good at Dissolving other Substances
Water forms hydrogen bonds not only with
itself, but with other substances that have at
least some electrical polarity, some
unevenness in the distribution of positive and
negative electrical charges. Of the other major
food molecules, which are much larger and
more complex than water, both carbohydrates
and proteins have polar regions. Water
molecules are attracted to these regions and
cluster around them. When they do this, they