Naming H2O

[Chloe Shamtob 2H]

When writing the formula for a coordination compound, how do you know whether tow rite water as H2O or OH2. Does it matter?

[Olivia Smith 2E]

It does not matter that much. Most of the things are by choice, with people choosing to but the most electronegative atom first. Ideally if following the pattern of the rest of the molecular formula you would put O (the most electron negative) first

[Eric Cruz 2G]

It doesn't make a significant difference. H2O and OH2 signal that they are both neutral water molecules. However, the OH2 from what I have noticed gives specificity of whether it will bond to the Hydrogen atom or the oxygen atom of the water molecule

[Hailey Qasawadish 2J]

I have seen it be done both ways in the book, but I don't think it matters too much. I think writing it as OH2 is just a little bit more specific in terms of bonding.

[Adam Bustamante 1I]

I don't think it matters which way you write it (H2O or OH2) but I think you would use one over the other depending on where the molecule is bonding.

[Bella Bursulaya 3G]

I think (OH2) is more common, but since the final is multiple choice, you don't have to worry about it because you'll see how it'll be written.

[abby hyman]

It does not matter really how you write it. I remember in lecture that Lavelle wrote it as OH2 to show that the oxygen was what was donating the electrons rather than the Hydrogen

[Emma Chang 1G]

I think we use OH2 since O is the one binding to the central atom, but I think either is fine since the final is multiple choice.

[Malakai Espinosa 3E]

OH2 I think is just helpful to write sometimes that way we know the molecule is binding to the Oxygen atom in water, and not one of the hydrogen atoms.

[Sandy Lin 1L]

I do not think it matters since both still represent a water molecule. The reason why they are written in different orders is that it represents which atom is bonded to the central atom. In the case of H20, since hydrogen can only form one bond, and it is already bonded to Oxygen, only the oxygen can bond to something else. That is why it is written in the order of OH2.

[Kendall_Dewey_2D]

I don't think how you write it matters too much, especially since the final is multiple choice. I just recall that Professor Lavelle wrote OH2 in lecture to show that oxygen was what was donating electrons, not Hydrogen.

[Sreeram Kurada 3H]

It's more of a preference than anything. Since O is the electronegative atom, people might write water that way to illustrate that the bonds are occurring from the oxygen rather than the hydrogens.