Polar and Non-polar Molecules

Polar bond

A bond between atoms in which the electrons are not shared equally, resulting in a partial positive charge on one atom and a partial negative charge on the other.

Nonpolar bond

A bond between atoms in which the electrons are shared equally, resulting in no separation of charge.

Polar molecule

A molecule that has an uneven distribution of charge due to the presence of polar bonds or lone pairs of electrons.

Nonpolar molecule

A molecule that has an even distribution of charge due to the absence of polar bonds or lone pairs of electrons.

Polarity

The property of a molecule that determines whether it is polar or nonpolar.

Symmetry

The quality of being made up of exactly similar parts facing each other or around an axis.

Lone pair of electrons

A pair of electrons that is not involved in bonding and is localized on a single atom.

Electronegativity

The ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond.

Dichloromethane

A polar molecule with polar bonds and no lone pairs on the center atom.

Carbon dioxide

A nonpolar molecule with nonpolar bonds and no lone pairs on the center atom.

Ammonia

A polar molecule with polar bonds and lone pairs on the center atom.

Methane

A nonpolar molecule with nonpolar bonds and no lone pairs on the center atom.

Formaldehyde

A polar molecule with polar bonds and no lone pairs on the center atom.

Xenon tetrafluoride

A nonpolar molecule with nonpolar bonds and no lone pairs on the center atom.

Carbon tetrafluoride

A nonpolar molecule with nonpolar bonds and no lone pairs on the center atom.

Water

A polar molecule with polar bonds and lone pairs on the center atom.

Phosphorous pentachloride

A polar molecule with polar bonds and no lone pairs on the center atom.

Hydrogen sulfide

A polar molecule with polar bonds and lone pairs on the center atom.

Sulfur dioxide

A polar molecule with polar bonds and lone pairs on the center atom.

Dipole moment

The measure of the polarity of a molecule, either found through experiment or calculated theoretically, measured in debyes.

Debye

The unit of measurement for dipole moment.

Polar bond

A bond between atoms with a significant difference in electronegativity, resulting in an uneven distribution of charge.

Electronegativity

The ability of an atom to attract electrons towards itself in a chemical bond.

Polar molecule

A molecule with an uneven distribution of charge, resulting in a positive and negative end.

Nonpolar molecule

A molecule with an even distribution of charge, resulting in no positive or negative end.

Lone pair

A pair of electrons that are not involved in bonding and are located on an atom.

Phosphorus trifluoride (PF3)

A molecule with a dipole moment of 1.03 D, containing phosphorus and three fluorine atoms.