Shifted atoms

The rod has been charged negatively by rubbing it against the cloth, because it received negative charges from the cloth. Consequently more negative charges were removed from the cloth, so it consists of more positive than negative particles now. So the cloth is charged positively now.

But why was the water attracted in the first experiment? Actually it has not been charged by friction.
The charged particles in the water are also influenced without touching. With the help of the following drawing consider the way the charges will align in the water, if the charged plastic rod is moving closer.
You have to know thereby, that in case of the water the negative and positive charges are firmly connected. So arrange the charges within the circles in a way they would react to the negatively charged plastic rod.

Click onto the arrow to compare your drawing to the solution.