To determine if water is a polar compound, we analyze the electronegativity values of its constituent atoms. The electronegativity of hydrogen is 2.2, while that of oxygen is 3.44. The difference in electronegativity is calculated as follows: 3.44 (O) - 2.2 (H) = 1.24. A difference greater than 0.4 indicates a polar bond. Since 1.24 is significantly greater than 0.4, the bond between hydrogen and oxygen in water is polar. This polarity leads to the molecule having a partial negative charge near the oxygen atom and a partial positive charge near the hydrogen atoms, making water a polar compound.