Polarity Practice

Front

What is polarity in chemistry?

Back

Polarity refers to the distribution of electrical charge over the atoms joined by the bond. A polar molecule has a partial positive charge on one end and a partial negative charge on the other.

Front

What determines if a molecule is polar or nonpolar?

Back

The polarity of a molecule is determined by the difference in electronegativity between the atoms and the molecular geometry.

Front

What is a nonpolar molecule?

Back

A nonpolar molecule is one where the electrons are shared equally, resulting in no charge separation.

Front

What is a polar covalent bond?

Back

A polar covalent bond is a type of bond where electrons are shared unequally between two atoms, leading to a partial positive and partial negative charge.

Front

What is electronegativity?

Back

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons.

Front

What is the significance of the Lewis structure?

Back

The Lewis structure represents the arrangement of electrons in a molecule, helping to visualize bonding and lone pairs.

Front

What does a dipole moment indicate?

Back

A dipole moment indicates the polarity of a molecule, showing the direction and magnitude of the charge separation.

Front

What is the role of symmetry in determining molecular polarity?

Back

Symmetrical molecules tend to be nonpolar because the charge distribution is even, while asymmetrical molecules are often polar.

Front

What is the difference between ionic and polar covalent bonds?

Back

Ionic bonds involve the complete transfer of electrons, while polar covalent bonds involve unequal sharing of electrons.

Front

How does the presence of lone pairs affect molecular polarity?

Back

Lone pairs can create asymmetry in a molecule, contributing to its overall polarity.