The shape of a water molecule is bent or V-shaped. A water molecule, composed of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom (H2O), exhibits this bent shape due to the way the atoms are arranged and the polar nature of the molecule. The oxygen atom is more electronegative than the hydrogen atoms, creating a dipole moment. This polarity allows water molecules to form hydrogen bonds with one another, leading to unique properties such as high surface tension and a relatively high boiling point. The bent geometry is crucial to water's behavior and its role in biological and environmental processes.