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Molecular Polarity

  • Page ID
    1513
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    Polarity is a physical property of compounds which relates other physical properties such as melting and boiling points, solubility, and intermolecular interactions between molecules. For the most part, there is a direct correlation between the polarity of a molecule and number and types of polar or non-polar covalent bonds which are present. In a few cases, a molecule may have polar bonds, but in a symmetrical arrangement which then gives rise to a non-polar molecule such as carbon dioxide.

    150compare2.GIF

    Polarity - Dipole

    Polarity results from the uneven partial charge distribution between various atoms in a compound. Atoms, such as nitrogen, oxygen, and halogens, that are more electronegative have a tendency to have partial negative charges. Atoms, such as carbon and hydrogen, have a tendency to be more neutral or have partial positive charges. Electrons in a polar covalent bond are unequally shared between the two bonded atoms, which results in partial positive and negative charges. The separation of the partial charges creates a dipole. The word dipole means two poles: the separated partial positive and negative charges. A polar molecule results when a molecule contains polar bonds in an unsymmetrical arrangement.

    210dipole.gif

    Nonpolar molecules are of two types. Molecules whose atoms have equal or nearly equal electronegativities have zero or very small dipole moments. A second type of nonpolar molecule has polar bonds, but the molecular geometry is symmetrical allowing the bond dipoles to cancel each other out.

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