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When substances like sugar
and salt dissolve in water their smallest particles are wrapped up in water
molecules. Water molecules are electrical neutral but they have an unequal
charge distribution:
* The O atom of each water
molecule (H-O-H) carries a slight excess of negative charge, while the
H atoms
are slightly positive.
* An individual H2O
molecule is "bent" or V-shaped.This shape and the dipolar property
of water molecules makes them attractive for ions: In aqueous solutions
(and some times even in crystals) ions are covered by water molecules,
they are hydrated.
You can illustrate the
arrangement of water molecules around ions of NaCl using bead models:
* Left: The
Na+ ions [yellow beads] are covered by water molecules by attracting
their slightly negative charged O atom [red beads].
* Middle: The
(Cl-) ions [green beads] are covered by water molecules by attracting
their slightly positive charged H atom [white beads].
* Right: During
crystallization the water molecules leave the ions of NaCl which attract
each other to form their crystal lattice.