Polarity

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 end.

Front

What determines if a molecule is polar or nonpolar?

Back

The polarity of a molecule is determined by its shape and the difference in electronegativity between the atoms involved in the bond.

Front

What is electronegativity?

Back

Electronegativity is a measure of the tendency of an atom to attract a bonding pair of electrons.

Front

Which type of bond is formed between atoms with a large difference in electronegativity?

Back

Ionic bond.

Front

What is a nonpolar molecule?

Back

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

Front

Give an example of a polar molecule.

Back

Water (H2O) is a common example of a polar molecule.

Front

Give an example of a nonpolar molecule.

Back

Methane (CH4) is an example of a nonpolar molecule.

Front

What is the significance of the shape of a molecule in determining its polarity?

Back

The shape of a molecule affects how the dipoles (charge separations) add up; if they cancel out, the molecule is nonpolar.

Front

What happens to the polarity of a molecule if it has symmetrical geometry?

Back

If a molecule has symmetrical geometry, it is likely to be nonpolar, even if it contains polar bonds.

Front

What is a dipole moment?

Back

A dipole moment is a measure of the separation of positive and negative charges in a molecule.